mealier; mealiest
1
: containing meal : farinaceous
2
: soft, dry, and friable
3
a
: covered with meal or with fine granules
b
: flecked with another color
c
d
: pallid, blanched
a mealy complexion
4

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.
Food Storage No-Nos Storing Tomatoes In the Fridge While there are many ways to store tomatoes that people prefer for different reasons, storing tomatoes in the fridge can lead to a mealy texture and taste that certainly does not make the most of your tomatoes. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 21 Mar. 2025 Aphids and mealy bug are easy to spray off the tree with a very sharp stream of water. Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Feb. 2025 Ever bite into a delicious-looking apple, only to be rewarded with a chunk of mealy pulp? Ari Daniel, NPR, 1 Feb. 2025 At the risk of sounding mealy-mouthed, that was just Spurs. Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mealy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mealy. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

mealy

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