Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

grainy

adjective \ ˈgrā-nē \
|Updated on: 12 Jul 2018

Definition of grainy

grainier; grainiest
1 : resembling or having some characteristic of grain : not smooth or fine
2 of a photograph : appearing to be composed of grain-like particles
—

graininess

noun

See grainy defined for English-language learners

Examples of grainy in a Sentence

  1. The mustard has a grainy texture.

  2. grainy sand kept it off the rankings as one of the nation's best beaches

Recent Examples of grainy from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'grainy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of grainy

15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year
NEW! Time Traveler

grainy Synonyms

Synonyms

coarse, grained, granular, granulated;

Antonyms

dusty, fine, floury, powdery, superfine, ultrafine;

Near Antonyms

buttery, smooth, velvety;

filtered, refined;

close-grained, ground, micronized, milled, mulled, pestled, pulverized, reduced, triturated;

Related Words

unfiltered, unrefined;

earthy, gravelly, gritty, sandy;

pebbly, rocky, stony (also stoney);

coarse-grained, cracked, kibbled, lumpy, mealy;

GRAINY Defined for English Language Learners

grainy

adjective

Definition of grainy for English Language Learners

  • : not smooth or fine

  • of a photograph : not clear or sharp because of having a picture formed from many dots that are large enough to be seen

Learn More about grainy

  1. Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for grainy Spanish Central: Translation of grainy Nglish: Translation of grainy for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up grainy? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

vouchsafe

play

to grant as a privilege or special favor

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. socialism 'a way of organizing a society in which major industries are owned and controlled by the government'

  2. uphold 'to let stand'

  3. due process 'a course of formal proceedings (as judicial proceedings)'

  4. asylum 'protection from arrest and extradition given especially to political refugees'

  5. insubordinate 'disobedient to authority'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

grainy

Test Your Vocabulary

Obscure Shapes

  • a-pile-of-three-dimensional-shapes-in-green
  • Something that is ooid is shaped like:
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Citation

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games