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
Jacqueline Kehoe, AFAR Media, 15 Oct. 2025
Michigan residents are in for another seasonable week, with cooler temperatures and scattered rain, according to the National Weather Service.
—Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 13 Oct. 2025
By comparison, campaign two felt more scattered and improvisational (befitting a D&D game).
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
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
William O'Connor, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
Debris appears scattered across the tarmac as emergency crews rush toward the wreckage.
—Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Another difficulty is that the deaths are scattered.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2025
Partygoers scattered as police and paramedics arrived.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Nov. 2025
Up to 95 percent of a brand’s emissions sit outside its direct control, scattered across a messy web of suppliers, mills, logistics partners, and raw-material sources.
—Gus Bartholomew, Sourcing Journal, 3 Nov. 2025
She and her siblings were separated and scattered into foster homes during the immigration process.
—Victoria Bekiempis, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2025
The allure is, of course, obvious — a private members’ club for creative elites with chic hotels and restaurants scattered across major international cities.
—Rachel Desantis, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
When people think of Jordan, images of bubble tents scattered across the desert, cinematic scenes from Dune, and the sandstone city of Petra, one of the world’s wonders, might come to mind.
—Essence, 28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
The core loop spans 18 miles with 4,500 feet of elevation gain, winding from Colchuck Lake’s turquoise waters to the Upper Enchantment Basin’s moonscape of polished granite and scattered tarns.
—Jacqueline Kehoe, AFAR Media, 15 Oct. 2025
Michigan residents are in for another seasonable week, with cooler temperatures and scattered rain, according to the National Weather Service.
—Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 13 Oct. 2025
By comparison, campaign two felt more scattered and improvisational (befitting a D&D game).
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
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
At Inhotim there are five miles of trails, 24 galleries, and 29 site-specific works scattered around a 350-acre botanical garden.
—William O'Connor, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
Debris appears scattered across the tarmac as emergency crews rush toward the wreckage.
—Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Another difficulty is that the deaths are scattered.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2025
Partygoers scattered as police and paramedics arrived.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Nov. 2025
Up to 95 percent of a brand’s emissions sit outside its direct control, scattered across a messy web of suppliers, mills, logistics partners, and raw-material sources.
—Gus Bartholomew, Sourcing Journal, 3 Nov. 2025
She and her siblings were separated and scattered into foster homes during the immigration process.
—Victoria Bekiempis, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2025
The allure is, of course, obvious — a private members’ club for creative elites with chic hotels and restaurants scattered across major international cities.
—Rachel Desantis, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
When people think of Jordan, images of bubble tents scattered across the desert, cinematic scenes from Dune, and the sandstone city of Petra, one of the world’s wonders, might come to mind.
—Essence, 28 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scattered
Adjective
-
Legalized betting has certain security advantages in that unusual betting patterns — such as large bets being placed on a random player’s performance — can be immediately flagged.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Still, a player ascending from top-15 or top-10-ish status in the league to a legit MVP candidate is arguably an even more difficult, more challenging and vertiginous jump than making the leap from random scrub to solid starter.—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Police dispersed the protesters, according to South Korea's newspaper.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Oct. 2025
-
But Kevin Buffalino, with the Sacramento Food Bank, said the $80 million that would have been dispersed through the year isn’t enough to meet needs that have been growing since before the shutdown.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Its grille features a phoenix logo, there are distinctive twin headlamps, but the most noticeable feature by far is the beautiful metallic orange paint, which, apparently, was sprayed in 60 layers.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Such a name seemed fitting as the choppy waters sprayed us like a river baptism.—
Ryan Knighton,
AFAR Media,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
With a muted atmosphere at the Olympic Stadium amidst despondent home support, West Ham’s opportunity was a potential mood-changer whose energy dissipated in the rattling of the woodwork.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
-
The ivory tower is losing luster by the second, after campuses around the country proved to be hotbeds of antisemitism, grade inflation has spiked rather than dissipated, and outrageous tuitions fund outlandish administrative salaries.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Yet, the severity of gendered crime during Partition wasn’t caused by an arbitrary upsurge of madness.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Several lawsuits have already been filed challenging the fee and selection changes, with universities, labor groups, and business organizations arguing that the administration exceeded its authority and that the new rules are arbitrary.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Think a more year-round COTA, with a dash more exclusivity sprinkled in.—
Patrick Iversen,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
According to Deadline, Scorsone's eight-episode hiatus will happen consecutively as opposed to other cast members' screen time reductions that are sprinkled throughout the season.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Aims of the science include learning how the oceans and magnetic field of Venus disappeared, and how plate tectonics changed the terrain.—
Elizabeth Howell,
Space.com,
4 Nov. 2025
-
After Brown disappeared, the owner of the bakery, Alice Lombardi, told CBS News that customers had come into the store and cried.—
Sam Gillette,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
This prevents stray heat from disrupting the atoms’ oscillations.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Oct. 2025
-
The stray dogs living at the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone are not allowed to leave, per CFF's website, so Dogs of Chernobyl does its best to care for the dogs stuck there.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scattered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scattered. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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