Mealy describes a dry, powdery, or crumbly texture, like biting into an apple that should be crisp and juicy but instead feels soft and grainy in your mouth. A mealy potato crumbles apart instead of holding together smoothly. Fresh fruit becomes mealy when it gets old or hasn't been stored properly.

When something is mealy, it has a dusty, granular feeling. If you've ever bitten into a disappointing apple that seemed more like powder than fruit, you've experienced mealiness.

Mealy can also describe something pale or spotty, like flour was dusted over it. A baker's hands might look mealy after kneading dough all morning.

In a different sense entirely, mealy-mouthed describes someone who won't speak directly or honestly. A mealy-mouthed person talks around the truth instead of just saying what they mean. If your friend asks whether you like their drawing and you give a vague, unhelpful answer like “Well, it's certainly interesting in its own way,” you're being mealy-mouthed. The phrase suggests words that feel weak and unsatisfying, like that disappointing mealy apple.