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

Examples of grainy in a Sentence

The mustard has a grainy texture. grainy sand kept it off the rankings as one of the nation's best beaches
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Rye and apple brandy are fast friends—the apple brandy adding an autumnal echo to rye’s grainy persistence. Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 25 Oct. 2025 When this happens, the ice cream's smooth structure breaks down, leading to a grainy, icy mouthfeel, altered flavor, and in some cases, the potential for bacterial growth if the ice cream warmed too dramatically before refreezing. Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 22 Oct. 2025 The photos on the frame appear dull and grainy, and they can only be updated every four hours. PC Magazine, 21 Oct. 2025 Meanwhile, the dark, grainy cinematography and gloriously creepy music (thank you, Lalo Schifrin) crank the fear factor up to 11. Gwen Ihnat, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for grainy

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of grainy was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Grainy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grainy. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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