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
Mery Mogollon, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 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
Expect scattered rain during this time.
—Ron Smiley, CBS News, 9 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
On Sunday, rain will pick up across the Midwest from Kansas and Missouri through Ohio and Pennsylvania while scattered thunderstorms are possible from Arkansas up to Ohio, with some possibly strong enough to bring gusty winds and maybe an isolated tornado.
—Kyle Reiman, ABC News, 27 Dec. 2025
Mars in Capricorn wants your expansion strategic and sustainable, not just spontaneous and scattered.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 14 Dec. 2025
In Ohio, heavy lake-effect snow fell on large swaths of northern Ohio heading into Thanksgiving, followed by a strong midweek cold front that dropped temperatures and produced scattered snow across the state.
—Brandi D. Addison, Cincinnati Enquirer, 1 Dec. 2025
Mary Murphy, Twin Cities, 16 Feb. 2026
The rain will become more scattered in the evening and will continue off and on overnight.
—Kenton Gewecke, ABC News, 16 Feb. 2026
The hockey, figure skating and speedskating venues in Milan are scattered on the fringes of the city, while central tourist attractions such as the Duomo and the Navigli have bearable levels of foot traffic.
—Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 16 Feb. 2026
The photos appear to have been taken during Super Bowl LX, with one image overlooking Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California and other subtle game-day nods scattered throughout.
—Caché McClay, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026
Schuck estimated there are about a dozen LED volume systems across the Dallas-Fort Worth area, from large stages at Trilogy Studios and South Side Studios to smaller walls scattered through North Dallas, Plano, Richardson and Carrollton.
—Wilborn P. Nobles Iii, Dallas Morning News, 16 Feb. 2026
Food trucks lined the outside of the Kansas City Convention Center, the tournament’s main location, while volleyball and sports apparel vendors were scattered throughout the convention center.
—Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 16 Feb. 2026
The island’s most compelling rentals are scattered across all the best spots for surfing, sunbathing, and jungle exploration.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 15 Feb. 2026
But the same storm that scattered snow through northeast Georgia dumped historic amounts of it in North Carolina.
—Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
His scattered family, like so many others, reflects the extraordinary exodus of almost 8 million Venezuelans — regarded as the largest-ever displacement of people in the Americas.
—Mery Mogollon, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 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
Expect scattered rain during this time.
—Ron Smiley, CBS News, 9 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
On Sunday, rain will pick up across the Midwest from Kansas and Missouri through Ohio and Pennsylvania while scattered thunderstorms are possible from Arkansas up to Ohio, with some possibly strong enough to bring gusty winds and maybe an isolated tornado.
—Kyle Reiman, ABC News, 27 Dec. 2025
Mars in Capricorn wants your expansion strategic and sustainable, not just spontaneous and scattered.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 14 Dec. 2025
In Ohio, heavy lake-effect snow fell on large swaths of northern Ohio heading into Thanksgiving, followed by a strong midweek cold front that dropped temperatures and produced scattered snow across the state.
—Brandi D. Addison, Cincinnati Enquirer, 1 Dec. 2025
Verb
Her photo and flowers will remain on her desk in the House Chamber for the whole session — along with the memorial outside the entrance to the chamber that is scattered with notes, flowers and photos from the public.
—Mary Murphy, Twin Cities, 16 Feb. 2026
The rain will become more scattered in the evening and will continue off and on overnight.
—Kenton Gewecke, ABC News, 16 Feb. 2026
The hockey, figure skating and speedskating venues in Milan are scattered on the fringes of the city, while central tourist attractions such as the Duomo and the Navigli have bearable levels of foot traffic.
—Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 16 Feb. 2026
The photos appear to have been taken during Super Bowl LX, with one image overlooking Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California and other subtle game-day nods scattered throughout.
—Caché McClay, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026
Schuck estimated there are about a dozen LED volume systems across the Dallas-Fort Worth area, from large stages at Trilogy Studios and South Side Studios to smaller walls scattered through North Dallas, Plano, Richardson and Carrollton.
—Wilborn P. Nobles Iii, Dallas Morning News, 16 Feb. 2026
Food trucks lined the outside of the Kansas City Convention Center, the tournament’s main location, while volleyball and sports apparel vendors were scattered throughout the convention center.
—Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 16 Feb. 2026
The island’s most compelling rentals are scattered across all the best spots for surfing, sunbathing, and jungle exploration.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 15 Feb. 2026
But the same storm that scattered snow through northeast Georgia dumped historic amounts of it in North Carolina.
—Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 15 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scattered
Adjective
-
Threema uses a random ID rather than a phone number.—
Jennifer Lutz,
New York Daily News,
19 Feb. 2026
-
These simulations weren’t random.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Randomly dispersed among the collectable cups nationwide will be 3,000 Golden Fan Cups.—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Although there are a total of eight bedrooms and 10 bathrooms, plus a powder room, dispersed throughout the three-story pad, the primary suite is the showstopper.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The alleged perpetrator, 55-year-old Anthony Kazmierczak, charged at Omar with a syringe in his hand and sprayed her with a liquid.—
Jacob Rosen,
CBS News,
19 Feb. 2026
-
When Slater was ousted last week, the administration sprayed out explanations.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But within days, that rosiness dissipated.—
Sam Gringlas,
NPR,
13 Feb. 2026
-
There was much excitement on Tuesday when police announced a man taken into custody for questioning, but that dissipated when he was released hours later and Guthrie still had not been located.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The colonists were subject to arbitrary taxation, warrantless searches, standing armies in their homes, and other evils at the hands of the crown.—
Agustina Vergara Cid,
Oc Register,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Judges could reason the NCAA interpreting rules to allow pros from some leagues, but not others, is hypocritical and arbitrary.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
These options are also useful for other forms of medication, including powders that may need to be sprinkled within the pocket and then closed off.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
-
These people wore sackcloth, were sprinkled with ashes and remained apart until they were reconciled with the Christian community.—
Chris Sims,
Louisville Courier Journal,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As soon as our interview ended, the seven idols disappeared to change outfits for an evening rehearsal, and returned minutes later, slurping down steaming cups of ramyeon.—
Rebecca Cairns,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Five years and a few economic shocks later, the revolution looks more like a recalibration—but that doesn’t mean ESG has disappeared.—
Brian Tayan,
Harvard Business Review,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Last week, the Miami-Dade commissioner representing that area of Kendall, Raquel Regalado, filed legislation to ban the feeding of stray animals outside of businesses or in public parks but ultimately revoked it after receiving backlash.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Some days that means something small—just the water bottles, beauty products, stray cables, shoes, or underwear drawer.—
Staff Author,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scattered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scattered. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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