mealy

adjective

ˈmē-lē How to pronounce mealy (audio)
mealier; mealiest
Synonyms of mealy
1
: containing meal : farinaceous
2
: soft, dry, and friable
3
a
: covered with meal or with fine granules
b
: flecked with another color
c
: spotty, uneven
d
: pallid, blanched
a mealy complexion
4
: mealymouthed

Synonyms of mealy

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Examples of mealy in a Sentence

the mealy flesh of a pear her mealy complexion might be OK if she were a mime, but she isn't
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.
Cold temperatures kill flavor and turn the flesh mealy, so a shaded countertop out of direct sunlight is nearly always the better call. — Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 6 Aug. 2026 Cold temperatures kill flavor and turn the flesh mealy, so whole, uncut tomatoes belong at room temperature. — Lauren Schuster, Kansas City Star, 6 Aug. 2026 Unless, of course, one apple is giant, glossy, improbably red, but also covered in pesticides, while the other is smaller, organic, perhaps a bit mealy in parts, but better for you in the ways that matter most. — Alli Forde, Travel + Leisure, 8 June 2026 This occurred one week before West and Amanda publicly announced their situationship on Instagram in a mealy-mouthed statement that sounded like it was written by ChatGPT. — Marlow Stern, Variety, 3 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for mealy

Word History

First Known Use

1541, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of mealy was in 1541

Rhymes for mealy

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Browse Nearby Words

mealworm
mealy
mealy Amazon
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Cite this Entry

“Mealy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mealy. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

mealy

adjective
ˈmē-lē How to pronounce mealy (audio)
mealier; mealiest
1
: containing meal
2
: being soft, dry, and crumbly
3
: covered with fine grains or with flecks (as of color)
4
: mealymouthed
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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