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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of scatter
IEEE Spectrum, 10 June 2015
In spectroscopy, a substance either absorbs or scatters light, depending on how its molecules vibrate.
—Ambuj Tewari, The Conversation, 6 Mar. 2025
Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 12 May 2025
Crutchfield, whose nieces and nephews are scattered across Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi, also understands the importance of being a pillar in her family.
—Ronny Maye, Essence, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for scatter
Noun
Muscle fiber scatters light both parallel to and perpendicular to the direction of the muscle fiber, and that scattering changes when the muscle contracts.
—IEEE Spectrum, 10 June 2015
In spectroscopy, a substance either absorbs or scatters light, depending on how its molecules vibrate.
—Ambuj Tewari, The Conversation, 6 Mar. 2025
Verb
Mahle allowed one run over 6 1/3 innings, scattering four hits and a walk.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 12 May 2025
Crutchfield, whose nieces and nephews are scattered across Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi, also understands the importance of being a pillar in her family.
—Ronny Maye, Essence, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for scatter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scatter
Noun
-
The role earned him one Emmy and a handful of nominations, however, he's admitted that not every episode was award-worthy.—
Kate Hogan,
People.com,
16 May 2025
-
Over the years, Carter has also delivered a handful of projects on his own, which have been met with middling commercial success.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
Verb
-
But the information that has been dispersed online about this change may not have included the entire picture, and may have even been unintentionally misleading or confusing.—
Parents,
Parents,
9 May 2025
-
In the background of one video on social media, a voice could be heard over a loudspeaker telling protesters to disperse.—
Kerry Burke,
New York Daily News,
8 May 2025
Verb
-
With 1:06 left in the fourth quarter, Donovan Mitchell sprayed a pass to his trusty marksman Max Strus for an open three, bang.—
Mat Issa,
Forbes.com,
7 May 2025
-
And some travelers, especially those going to the Maldives, Australia, and other countries that spray insecticide and disinfectant on arriving flights, wrap their luggage in plastic to protect their contents from the chemicals.—
Katie Jackson,
Travel + Leisure,
6 May 2025
Verb
-
Traditional weddings are gradually dissipating, with a clear generational divide.—
Alex Backus,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 May 2025
-
While tensions don't exactly appear to be dissipating, these talks are the first sign that the trade rivals could reach a resolution after Trump raised tariffs on some Chinese imports as high as 145 percent.—
Ashley Belanger – May 7,
ArsTechnica,
7 May 2025
Noun
-
This has not been the type of start Wood has enjoyed the last couple of weeks.—
Matt Jones,
Arkansas Online,
11 May 2025
-
An audience of about 75—who all seemed to be locals, except for me and a Dutch couple—roared and cheered as a gifted dancer named David Nieto shook the stage in a whir of heel stomps, wrist flicks, and head snaps.—
Christopher Bagley,
Travel + Leisure,
11 May 2025
Verb
-
The American Salad Book, written by Maximilian De Loup, and published in 1899, includes a salad of fresh pears, peeled and sliced, sprinkled with sugar, drizzled with a maraschino or ginger syrup and served with cream.—
Anne Byrn,
Southern Living,
9 May 2025
-
Only a handful of headstones are sprinkled throughout the 1-acre tract at the front of Five Points Park near Johnson C. Smith University.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
8 May 2025
Verb
-
On October 2, 2018, Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi Arabian dissident who, after leaving his home country, had become an opinion columnist for the Post, disappeared while visiting the Saudi Embassy in Istanbul.—
Clare Malone,
New Yorker,
12 May 2025
-
Otherwise, film journalism will disappear from mainstream press, becoming the preserve of fan sites.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
12 May 2025
Verb
-
In spring, the area will be dotted with wild blooms of sticky monkey flower, canyon sunflower and golden yarrow.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2025
-
The series of parables and contained narratives are also dotted with evidence of time travel.—
Paul A. Thompson,
Pitchfork,
13 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scatter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scatter. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share