as in random
lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern
a hodgepodge of scattered ideas that didn't add up to a clear hypothesis
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in dispersed
to cause (members of a group) to move widely apart
the noise of the backfiring car scattered the pigeons
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sprayed
to cover by or as if by scattering something over or on
the hillside was scattered with boulders deposited by the last ice age
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in dissipated
to go off in different directions and cease to exist as a body or unified whole
these drunken revelers will quickly scatter when the police arrive
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scattered
Kyle Reiman, ABC News, 13 Sep. 2025
The result was a mile-long line that turned scattered craftwork into synchronized production.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2025
More likely, a supernova occurs inside a galaxy loaded with numerous, scattered clouds of gas and dust.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2025
Jason Phillips, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
Where to stay With a prime location directly across from the Public Garden, the Newbury Boston is a stylish choice, with wood-burning fireplaces inside the suites and impressive art pieces scattered around the property.
—Kori Perten, AFAR Media, 24 Sep. 2025
Combat isn't everything, however; Silent Hill f has plenty of puzzles, riddles, and secrets scattered throughout the world, providing a satisfying challenge.
—Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
They’ll be scattered somewhere on Mount of the Holy Cross.
—Ted Katauskas, Outside, 23 Sep. 2025
One of the earliest duties of any restorer is to round up the copies or portions of a film, in a variety of states, that have been scattered far and wide.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
The survivors were scattered around the world, and even over a century later, the tragedy still colors their view of their ancestral region.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 21 Sep. 2025
Tired Containers Whether on your front porch or scattered throughout the yard, happy containers make for a more inviting atmosphere.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 20 Sep. 2025
The result was a centralized location for Salesforce’s data, rather than its being scattered across various corners of the network.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
The threat for heavy rain in South Florida is diminishing, however typical scattered thunderstorms with locally heavy downpours are still possible in the area through the weekend.
—Kyle Reiman, ABC News, 13 Sep. 2025
The result was a mile-long line that turned scattered craftwork into synchronized production.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2025
More likely, a supernova occurs inside a galaxy loaded with numerous, scattered clouds of gas and dust.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
Today's average founder wakes to a cascade of notifications scattered across Slack, WhatsApp, LinkedIn, email, and TikTok.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
Where to stay With a prime location directly across from the Public Garden, the Newbury Boston is a stylish choice, with wood-burning fireplaces inside the suites and impressive art pieces scattered around the property.
—Kori Perten, AFAR Media, 24 Sep. 2025
Combat isn't everything, however; Silent Hill f has plenty of puzzles, riddles, and secrets scattered throughout the world, providing a satisfying challenge.
—Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
They’ll be scattered somewhere on Mount of the Holy Cross.
—Ted Katauskas, Outside, 23 Sep. 2025
One of the earliest duties of any restorer is to round up the copies or portions of a film, in a variety of states, that have been scattered far and wide.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
The survivors were scattered around the world, and even over a century later, the tragedy still colors their view of their ancestral region.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 21 Sep. 2025
Tired Containers Whether on your front porch or scattered throughout the yard, happy containers make for a more inviting atmosphere.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 20 Sep. 2025
The result was a centralized location for Salesforce’s data, rather than its being scattered across various corners of the network.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 17 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scattered
Adjective
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No Breaks will invite viewers into the beautiful chaos of everyday life, including work, parenting, friendships, sports and the wonderfully random topics that take over group chats.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
26 Sep. 2025
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Instead of pulling out random strands, Hazan recommends starting at the front and working back toward your crown, sectioning out 10 quarter-inch-wide pieces a quarter of an inch apart.—
Maureen Choi,
Glamour,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Anemochory is a term that describes seeds that are dispersed by wind.—
Markis Hill,
Kansas City Star,
26 Sep. 2025
-
The events of season 3 left these three core characters dispersed.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Prosecutors say the attackers sprayed anti-ICE graffiti, shot a police officer in the neck and exchanged fire with correctional officers before fleeing.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
26 Sep. 2025
-
The students allegedly sprayed the substance at their school on two occasions in May 2023 as a prank, prompting the school to be evacuated and causing six students to be taken to the hospital to be treated for headaches and nausea, according to KTRK.—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But the chilling effect on pediatric RSV vaccine development following the 1960s disaster has never fully dissipated.—
Tara Haelle,
Scientific American,
23 Sep. 2025
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The district-wide turnaround is especially striking since interest in books had gradually dissipated across age groups as smartphone and social media platforms grew in popularity, Conrad said.—
Joshua Rhett Miller,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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African telecom companies are often at the mercy of government agencies that order the shutdowns, but pressure from the international community could increase accountability and compel the companies to deny unlawful or arbitrary shutdown orders, the researchers argued.—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
29 Sep. 2025
-
But Trump’s arbitrary brand of interventionism comes with obvious dangers.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Cara's golden face was covered in fresh dirt, spattering her mouth, nose, eyes, and head, with plenty more sprinkled on the concrete patio beneath her.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
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Throughout the show, Boose sprinkled skits between his songs.—
Audrey Gibbs,
Nashville Tennessean,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Instead of just the solar disk vanishing, the entire corona disappeared.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Actors and musicians appeared and disappeared, dissolving into one another.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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There will be a stray shower and cloudy this morning, then intervals of clouds and sunshine this afternoon.—
Leah Olajide,
Freep.com,
25 Sep. 2025
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This new quantum sensor uses individual atoms, cooled to just shy of absolute zero, to serve as targets for stray particles to hit.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
24 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scattered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scattered. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
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