grainy
5 synonyms and 1 antonym for grainy, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Having a rough, granular texture, made up of small visible particles.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use grainy
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
grainy photo
grainy footage
grainy texture
Etymology
From Middle English greyny, from grain plus the adjective suffix -y.
Full origin of grainy →Frequently asked questions
What does “grainy” mean?
The word “grainy” means having a rough, granular texture, made up of small visible particles. In plain terms, rough or coarse-textured, like tiny grains — often used for low-quality images or gritty food textures.
How do you pronounce “grainy”?
“Grainy” is pronounced GRAY-nee (/ˈɡɹeɪni/ in IPA).
How do you use “grainy” in a sentence?
Here is “grainy” used in a sentence: “The old photo was dark and grainy.”
What part of speech is “grainy”?
“Grainy” is an adjective.
Where does the word “grainy” come from?
The word “grainy” comes from Middle English. From Middle English greyny, from grain plus the adjective suffix -y.
