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
Cutter Martin, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
And in legislative committees and in debate on Wednesday, sponsors of the new requirement didn’t cite evidence of more than scattered cases in which non-citizens may have voted.
—Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2026
The scattered protests erupted Saturday at universities following 40-day memorials for people killed in January during anti-government rallies.
—Jon Gambrell, Fortune, 22 Feb. 2026
The scattered protests erupted Saturday at universities following 40-day memorials for people killed in January during antigovernment rallies.
—Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2026
Instead of building individual homes on scattered sites, Reclaiming Chicago aims to transform whole neighborhoods at once, sometimes taking over large vacant lots and planting groups of more than 100 affordable homes.
—Brian J. Rogal, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
More scattered sleet, snow and ice are expected for the afternoon, before widespread precipitation is predicted to return Saturday night.
—Julia James, Dallas Morning News, 24 Jan. 2026
Radiohead’s European run — hitting Madrid, Bologna, London, Copenhagen, and Berlin — was a triumph, aside from some scattered grumbling about the in-the-round stage setup and descending screens that sometimes obscured the band early on.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 13 Jan. 2026
Its fractured, scattered form, grasping for structure instead of pretending to master it, is an attempt to build a future that will include both author and reader.
—Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 1 Jan. 2026
Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
More than a dozen robots and creatures are scattered on a pink carpet.
—Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2026
The game wasn’t on the scoreboard, but so many people were watching on their phones and on smaller TVs scattered around the arena that the place erupted.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2026
Most scattered freely, while Schmeby attempted to do the same, eventually getting stuck hanging over a wooden board blocking the sidewalk.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
By contrast, Tuesday brings a Weather Alert Day with a slight risk (level 2/5), indicating a higher chance of more organized and scattered severe storms through the day as a cold front moves through.
—Vytas Reid, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
More than 20 people died in that incident, and another 30 were injured, and banknotes from the plane's cargo scattered around the crash site, prompting clashes between residents and security forces.
—Luis Jaime Acosta, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
The billboards scattered across the city arrive as speculation grows that the singer is planning to host a series of comeback concerts.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 23 Mar. 2026
These smaller hubs scattered across downtown fostered a level of intimacy among attendees.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Earlier sunshine way to clouds and scattered rain as the first, in a series, of passing systems brings brief wet weather to Maryland.
—Cutter Martin, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
And in legislative committees and in debate on Wednesday, sponsors of the new requirement didn’t cite evidence of more than scattered cases in which non-citizens may have voted.
—Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2026
The scattered protests erupted Saturday at universities following 40-day memorials for people killed in January during anti-government rallies.
—Jon Gambrell, Fortune, 22 Feb. 2026
The scattered protests erupted Saturday at universities following 40-day memorials for people killed in January during antigovernment rallies.
—Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2026
Instead of building individual homes on scattered sites, Reclaiming Chicago aims to transform whole neighborhoods at once, sometimes taking over large vacant lots and planting groups of more than 100 affordable homes.
—Brian J. Rogal, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
More scattered sleet, snow and ice are expected for the afternoon, before widespread precipitation is predicted to return Saturday night.
—Julia James, Dallas Morning News, 24 Jan. 2026
Radiohead’s European run — hitting Madrid, Bologna, London, Copenhagen, and Berlin — was a triumph, aside from some scattered grumbling about the in-the-round stage setup and descending screens that sometimes obscured the band early on.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 13 Jan. 2026
Its fractured, scattered form, grasping for structure instead of pretending to master it, is an attempt to build a future that will include both author and reader.
—Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 1 Jan. 2026
Verb
Quinn struck out 11, walked five and scattered four hits for her third win of the season.
—Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
More than a dozen robots and creatures are scattered on a pink carpet.
—Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2026
The game wasn’t on the scoreboard, but so many people were watching on their phones and on smaller TVs scattered around the arena that the place erupted.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2026
Most scattered freely, while Schmeby attempted to do the same, eventually getting stuck hanging over a wooden board blocking the sidewalk.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
By contrast, Tuesday brings a Weather Alert Day with a slight risk (level 2/5), indicating a higher chance of more organized and scattered severe storms through the day as a cold front moves through.
—Vytas Reid, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
More than 20 people died in that incident, and another 30 were injured, and banknotes from the plane's cargo scattered around the crash site, prompting clashes between residents and security forces.
—Luis Jaime Acosta, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
The billboards scattered across the city arrive as speculation grows that the singer is planning to host a series of comeback concerts.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 23 Mar. 2026
These smaller hubs scattered across downtown fostered a level of intimacy among attendees.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scattered
Adjective
-
May 21 – June 20 A random chat could inspire you to make smarter moves.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
2 Apr. 2026
-
They are proven hitters, and baseball can be random, especially in this early part of the season when ballparks are still frozen and very few players are in midseason form.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The crowd still debated defiance but dispersed at the last possible moment.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
31 Mar. 2026
-
That said, Saturday's attendance was difficult to estimate since the crowd was dispersed around the Statehouse grounds.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Williams left briefly before returning, after which the security guard sprayed him with mace, the court document said.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Passengers could only stare out the windows as about a dozen hooligans jumped atop the bus while others sprayed it with graffiti, including on the bus' windshield.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But tensions within the American Jewish community have hardly dissipated since a peace deal was signed, in October, 2025.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Now that the trough has dissipated, the heat was back on.—
Ray Stern,
AZCentral.com,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
What’s to blame for all these arbitrary governing principles?—
Hershal Pandya,
Vulture,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Black folks have seen the face of the US’s prerogative state—the side of the government that dispenses arbitrary jurisprudence, discriminatory law enforcement, and violence against those who challenge its authority and dominant ideologies.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Baristas sprinkled shredded phyllo dough over top heaps of cold foam.—
Jenna Thompson
April 1,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The Original Glazed doughnut is dipped in blue vanilla icing, sprinkled with Oreo crunch and white nonpareils.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Seriously injured, Johnson was rescued by helicopter, but Molly disappeared.—
Clare Fisher,
PEOPLE,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Cloud rap never disappeared, but the party was over.—
Billie Bugara,
Pitchfork,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In addition, for almost two years, his wife, Deltah, drove Henard to Childress every Tuesday for infusions of Keytruda, an immune checkpoint inhibitor used to prevent recurrence of disease by attacking stray cancer cells that may still be circulating in the body.—
Caleb Hellerman,
CNN Money,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Atlanta police are searching for three suspects after a Campbellton Road shooting injured one man and sent a stray bullet through a school bus window, causing minor injuries to two children.—
CBS News Atlanta Staff,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scattered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scattered. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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