grainy

adjective

ˈgrā-nē How to pronounce grainy (audio)
grainier; grainiest
Synonyms of grainynext
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

Synonyms of grainy

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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.
If the language of poetry serves as the film’s structural base, its grainy analogue footage, shot by Ben Rivers, gives it the texture of a dream. — Rafaela Bassili, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026 The grainy surveillance footage, dated June 29, 2024, showed a teenager in an anti-suicide smock being dragged violently by other teens across the floor at Middle Tennessee Juvenile Detention Center. — Paige Pfleger, ProPublica, 12 Aug. 2026 The record’s grainy black-and-white cover shows her with her hair—usually scraped back in her trademark ponytail, or lately a bun, another kind of disguise—loose and scattered over her laughing face. — Aimee Cliff, Pitchfork, 31 July 2026 Cats used to be the internet’s punchline, as grainy clips of keyboard solos and grumpy faces dropped into our feeds for a quick laugh. — Pat Mueller, USA Today, 29 July 2026 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

Rhymes for grainy

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Browse Nearby Words

grain weevil
grainy
graip
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Cite this Entry

“Grainy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grainy. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of grainy for Spanish Speakers

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