Synonyms of scatter

scatter 1 of 2

noun

as in handful

a small number

played before only a scatter of spectators in that huge stadium

Synonyms & Similar Words

• handful
• couple
• few
• scattering
• sprinkle
• smattering
• sprinkling
• smatter
• minority
• fragment
• atom
• grain
• molecule
• shred
• particle
• whit
• modicum
• jot
• iota
• tittle
• crumb
• scrap

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• many
• loads
• flock
• thousands
• multitude
• mountain
• army
• crowd
• most
• horde
• host
• majority
• legion
• excess
• abundance
• scads
• surplus
• oodles
• plenty
• zillion
• gazillion
• pile
• quantity
• heap
• mass
• jillion
• stack
• wealth
• lot
• pot
• kazillion
• profusion
• peck
• slew
• raft
• deal
• wad
• reams
• plenitude
• gobs
• slather
• much

scatter

2 of 2

verb

ˈska-tər 

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

• disperse
• dispel
• dissipate
• squander
• disband
• isolate
• segregate
• clear out
• diffuse
• split (up)
• disseminate
• separate
• spread
• part
• diverge
• break up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• collect
• gather
• concentrate
• assemble
• congregate
• cluster
• conglomerate
• unite
• ingather
• unify
• agglutinate

2

as in to spray

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

• spray
• sprinkle
• dot
• pepper
• strew
• sow
• dust
• spot
• bestrew
• drizzle
• stud
• speckle
• blanket
• fleck
• spatter
• dapple
• stipple
• bespatter

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

• disperse
• dissipate
• disappear
• fade
• dissolve
• disassemble
• evaporate
• divide
• spill
• disband
• diverge
• melt
• fork
• separate
• flee
• branch (out)
• break up
• clear
• go (away)
• evanesce

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• gather
• meet
• congregate

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb scatter differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of scatter are dispel, disperse, and dissipate. While all these words mean "to cause to separate or break up," scatter implies a force that drives parts or units irregularly in many directions.

the bowling ball scattered the pins

When could dispel be used to replace scatter?

The meanings of dispel and scatter largely overlap; however, dispel stresses a driving away or getting rid of as if by scattering.

an authoritative statement that dispelled all doubt

In what contexts can disperse take the place of scatter?

The words disperse and scatter are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, disperse implies a wider separation and a complete breaking up of a mass or group.

police dispersed the crowd

Where would dissipate be a reasonable alternative to scatter?

In some situations, the words dissipate and scatter are roughly equivalent. However, dissipate stresses complete disintegration or dissolution and final disappearance.

the fog was dissipated by the morning sun

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of scatter

Noun

Take this trend a step further and use real fruit in your tablescape for a literal adaptation—scatter fresh, whole oranges, tomatoes, or lemons throughout your dining table and wow your guests with this happy yet uber-simple decor. —Halee Miller Van Ryswyk, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Apr. 2026

In a cluttered room, that beam scatters in every direction. —Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026

Verb

Huge amounts of rain lead to vegetation growth, scattering seeds that attract leaf-munching rodents. —Isabel Debre, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026

How To Use Pine Cones Around Your Garden The simplest way to use pine cones is to scatter them strategically. —Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 6 May 2026