What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
mealy
Example
The apple was mealy and unpleasant to eat. [mealy: adjective]
Example
The flour had a mealy texture that made the dough difficult to work with. [mealy: adjective]
powdery
Example
The sugar was so powdery that it spilled everywhere. [powdery: adjective]
Example
The athlete's shoes were covered in powdery dirt from the field. [powdery: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Powdery is more commonly used than mealy in everyday language. Powdery is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while mealy is less common and is mostly used to describe specific types of food.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between mealy and powdery?
Both mealy and powdery are considered informal words and are not typically used in formal writing or speech.