as in handful
a small number
played before only a scatter of spectators in that huge stadium
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to disperse
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
3
as in to dissipate
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 scatter
Houman Barekat, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025
My air purifiers’ internal sensors, some using the same technology as my air quality monitors—a tiny chamber where a beam of light scatters picking up the particulates, even the invisible PM 2.5—automatically cranked up their fans.
—Lisa Wood Shapiro, WIRED, 7 Dec. 2024
Skyler Caruso, People.com, 17 Apr. 2025
As such, the paper authors looked to the readings of 650 portable geophones scattered around Yellowstone’s roads, which revealed its seismic activity in sharper detail.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scatter
Noun
At several points, the action pauses and an ensemble of actors in Edwardian dress scatters around the deck in panic, wearing Titanic-style life vests that foreshadow the play’s catastrophic climax.
—Houman Barekat, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025
My air purifiers’ internal sensors, some using the same technology as my air quality monitors—a tiny chamber where a beam of light scatters picking up the particulates, even the invisible PM 2.5—automatically cranked up their fans.
—Lisa Wood Shapiro, WIRED, 7 Dec. 2024
Verb
The vlogger took her followers inside her fitting, panning to a room filled with a massive amount of clothes and accessories scattered around the floor and lining the walls, including faux fur boots, tutu statement skirts, vintage designer and oversized western leathers.
—Skyler Caruso, People.com, 17 Apr. 2025
As such, the paper authors looked to the readings of 650 portable geophones scattered around Yellowstone’s roads, which revealed its seismic activity in sharper detail.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scatter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scatter
Noun
-
These international hubs did not exist before the 1990s, when most manufacturing was concentrated in a handful of countries.—
JAVIER CORRALES,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
-
The Athletic travelled the country for a taste of the tension and the drama in a handful of the games that mattered over the weekend.—
Gregg Evans,
New York Times,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
But this year, Veach says, is different from others in the way the draft’s talent is dispersed.—
Jesse Newell,
Kansas City Star,
17 Apr. 2025
-
Its more than $50 million budget was largely dispersed through grants to organizations to identify and combat disinformation from foreign adversaries.—
Laura Kelly,
The Hill,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Stock Hill, south of the Plaza 7 critical violations for a March 31 routine inspection 4800 Main St. Inside steakhouse’s kitchen, spray bottles full of chemicals were not marked with the name of the substance, according to the inspector.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
14 Apr. 2025
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Each machine has two or three spray arms, at least one on the bottom and one on the top: This is where the detergent-y water comes from.—
Ellen Cushing,
The Atlantic,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Global conflicts over scarce resources will dissipate, giving way to a new era of peace and abundance.—
Billy Perrigo,
Time,
15 Apr. 2025
-
The story doesn’t resolve so much as dissipate, in a series of almost comically perfunctory twists, reversals, and whispers of geopolitical peril.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
11 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The former couple are parents to two sons: Bix and Bo Bear.—
Francesca Gariano,
People.com,
17 Apr. 2025
-
While couples today don’t need to adhere to every tradition when planning their wedding events, a bridal shower has a few etiquette protocols that many follow when arranging the party or attending as a guest.—
Shelby Wax,
Vogue,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Rosemary bonded with Kennedy’s larger-than-life second wife, Eleanora, who was almost a decade younger than Rosemary, but acted as her fairy godmother, sprinkling money and sisterly advice.—
Susannah Cahalan,
Rolling Stone,
17 Apr. 2025
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Rainbow and trans flags could be seen sprinkled throughout the crowd, along with a dozen or so Moms for Liberty shirts.—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The blood trail continues for a few feet then disappears.—
Megan Kelly Brown,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2025
-
If gate donations continue to decline, street festivals will continue to shrink or simply disappear.—
Pamela Maass,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
With cranes dotting the skyline and modern buildings materializing everywhere, one uniquely sweet reminder of a simpler Boise remains downtown.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
17 Apr. 2025
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As a beautiful bonus, the anthuriums, orchids and philodendrons dotting the grounds guarantee the hotel looks gorgeous all year.—
Spencer Whaley,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scatter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scatter. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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