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
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
Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 9 Sep. 2025
But when workflows are scattered across several tools or bogged down by complicated rules, users disengage.
—Al Sefati, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
As the moon slipped into the deepest part of our planet's shadow — a period known as totality — a phenomenon known as Rayleigh scattering saw the moon adopt a bloody red hue, as sunlight scattered by Earth's atmosphere was bent onto the lunar surface.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 8 Sep. 2025
While there have been scattered attacks over the past months in Israel, the last deadly mass shooting attack was in October 2024.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
The windshield of a bus on the scene was riddled with bullet holes, and people’s belongings were scattered in the area.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 8 Sep. 2025
More banquet seating is scattered throughout the restaurant, which has 238 seats in total.
—Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 8 Sep. 2025
According to the researchers, the 40-neutron island of inversion is one of only a few small islands of exotic nuclei scattered across the neutron-rich edge of the nuclear chart, which is dominated by more conventional, stable configurations.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2025
The photos bear many of the hallmarks of college life, including string lights both inside and out, red solo cups and cans of alcohol, and some clothes scattered on the floor.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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
One of the popular ways to experience the park is through Jeep tours that can also give you a few of the flowers scattered across the terrain.
—Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 9 Sep. 2025
But when workflows are scattered across several tools or bogged down by complicated rules, users disengage.
—Al Sefati, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
As the moon slipped into the deepest part of our planet's shadow — a period known as totality — a phenomenon known as Rayleigh scattering saw the moon adopt a bloody red hue, as sunlight scattered by Earth's atmosphere was bent onto the lunar surface.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 8 Sep. 2025
While there have been scattered attacks over the past months in Israel, the last deadly mass shooting attack was in October 2024.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
The windshield of a bus on the scene was riddled with bullet holes, and people’s belongings were scattered in the area.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 8 Sep. 2025
More banquet seating is scattered throughout the restaurant, which has 238 seats in total.
—Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 8 Sep. 2025
According to the researchers, the 40-neutron island of inversion is one of only a few small islands of exotic nuclei scattered across the neutron-rich edge of the nuclear chart, which is dominated by more conventional, stable configurations.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2025
The photos bear many of the hallmarks of college life, including string lights both inside and out, red solo cups and cans of alcohol, and some clothes scattered on the floor.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scattered
Adjective
-
The bookstore idea came from a random day at her local coffee shop and an empty stall in the strip mall.—
Rick Mauch,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Sep. 2025
-
During a random search of the area, two officers accidentally stumble on a member of the gang posing as a municipal worker in a high-viz boiler suit.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Video taken at the event shows that, just seconds later, the sound of a gunshot was heard as Kirk appeared to be struck in the head or neck while the crowd around him dispersed in a panic.—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
10 Sep. 2025
-
These targets are often dispersed and lack adequate protection from air defense systems.—
Vikram Mittal,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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That's despite calls from agency staff for Kennedy to tone down such rhetoric after a gunman—who was influenced by vaccine misinformation and the vilification of the public health agency—sprayed the CDC campus with over 500 rounds and killed a local police officer last month.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Ferreira sprayed the ball wide to Alex Roldan, Cristian’s younger brother.—
Henry Bushnell,
New York Times,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Thankfully, my guilt dissipated.—
Cara Owsley,
The Enquirer,
29 Aug. 2025
-
An engine of sorts was gathering here, drawing calories closer to human settlements, energy that was dissipated in the flickers of flame and the fires of metabolism.—
Peter Brannen,
Big Think,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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If senior figures display rudeness or disrespect, employees may assume that such behavior is acceptable, making selective enforcement seem arbitrary and undermining of trust.—
Andrew Binns,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Moreover, Burroughs further held that the administration’s actions were arbitrary and capricious, in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).—
Noah Feldman,
Twin Cities,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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This article is specific to DraftKings with a little bit of FanDuel sprinkled in.—
Gladys Louise Tyler,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Bone meal sprinkled around the plant and watered into the soil is a good source of phosphorus.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Phillips disappeared with his children, Jayda, 12, Maverick, 10, and Ember, 9, after an alleged dispute with their mother back in 2021, PEOPLE previously reported.—
Becca Longmire,
PEOPLE,
10 Sep. 2025
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As veterans organizations plan events this month to remember the tens of thousands of Americans who died, disappeared or were captured in combat, some remains are still being identified through new scientific advances.—
Frank Witsil,
Freep.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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But before Wednesday, only four incidents had occurred in Poland during the war, with Romanian and Moldova most affected, although stray drones were detected in Latvia in September 2024 and fellow NATO members Lithuania and Estonia in July and August this year, ACLED said.—
Brendan Cole
John Feng,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
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Department Director Annette Jose said the attack does not appear to have been done by a stray dog.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scattered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scattered. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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