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
James Broughel, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
Midwest The Midwest will see some scattered rain on Friday.
—Kyle David, ABC News, 20 May 2026
The conjecture says that even within enormous, scattered and chaotic assemblages of points existing across innumerable dimensions, simple, orderly shapes will inevitably crop up.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 19 May 2026
So how do teams turn scattered tactics into a coherent system?
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 16 May 2026
In that case, most areas will see scattered rain, but the more robust cells could produce brief, heavy downpours.
—Ahmad Bajjey, CBS News, 8 May 2026
There are a few, scattered references to female gladiators.
—Literary Hub, 15 Apr. 2026
Within minutes of leaving town, the pavement twists downward through tight turns and steep grades as the mountain air begins to warm, the vegetation giving way to chaparral and scattered juniper, then to the stark silhouettes of ocotillo and Mojave yucca.
—Josh Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Another concern is the protection of Route 90, the only highway connecting the small and scattered communities of the north, on which the 27-year-old woman was killed last week.
—Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 May 2026
Local officials called the incident the worst single diving accident in the history of the Maldives, a nation of 1,192 tiny coral islands scattered some 500 miles across the equator in the Indian Ocean.
—CBS News, 18 May 2026
Sasaki scattered four hits and did not walk a batter.
—Katie Woo, New York Times, 18 May 2026
Small pieces of his vessel were scattered among the rocks.
—Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026
The embellished design features an array of glittery gems and ombré crystals scattered across the slim straps, giving the shoes a jewel-like shine and more of a show girl-worthy dazzle.
—Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 18 May 2026
Most are somewhere in the middle — a legacy platform that’s been in place too long, data scattered across systems that don’t quite line up, an IT team that’s spent more of the last five years keeping things running than rebuilding them.
—Dennis Woodside, Fortune, 17 May 2026
All those pieces of myself, scattered across a digital ocean, chewed up and spit out in less than 60 seconds.
—Erin Entrada Kelly, PEOPLE, 11 May 2026
Granite can tell us only so much, and the leaves scattered across the composition insist on the passage of time for any family, not just these.
—Casey Cep, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
Adjective
Prediction markets can turn scattered information about elections, inflation, corporate earnings and geopolitical risks into useful forecasts.
—James Broughel, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
Midwest The Midwest will see some scattered rain on Friday.
—Kyle David, ABC News, 20 May 2026
The conjecture says that even within enormous, scattered and chaotic assemblages of points existing across innumerable dimensions, simple, orderly shapes will inevitably crop up.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 19 May 2026
So how do teams turn scattered tactics into a coherent system?
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 16 May 2026
In that case, most areas will see scattered rain, but the more robust cells could produce brief, heavy downpours.
—Ahmad Bajjey, CBS News, 8 May 2026
There are a few, scattered references to female gladiators.
—Literary Hub, 15 Apr. 2026
Within minutes of leaving town, the pavement twists downward through tight turns and steep grades as the mountain air begins to warm, the vegetation giving way to chaparral and scattered juniper, then to the stark silhouettes of ocotillo and Mojave yucca.
—Josh Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Another concern is the protection of Route 90, the only highway connecting the small and scattered communities of the north, on which the 27-year-old woman was killed last week.
—Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
Matching the anything-goes vibe that flows through the resort, the breezy restaurant pavilion is merely a suggestion—ordering lunch or dinner to your private terrace, a candlelit table on the beach, or one of the dozen-or-so secret seating nooks scattered around the property is actively encouraged.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 May 2026
Local officials called the incident the worst single diving accident in the history of the Maldives, a nation of 1,192 tiny coral islands scattered some 500 miles across the equator in the Indian Ocean.
—CBS News, 18 May 2026
Sasaki scattered four hits and did not walk a batter.
—Katie Woo, New York Times, 18 May 2026
Small pieces of his vessel were scattered among the rocks.
—Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026
The embellished design features an array of glittery gems and ombré crystals scattered across the slim straps, giving the shoes a jewel-like shine and more of a show girl-worthy dazzle.
—Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 18 May 2026
Most are somewhere in the middle — a legacy platform that’s been in place too long, data scattered across systems that don’t quite line up, an IT team that’s spent more of the last five years keeping things running than rebuilding them.
—Dennis Woodside, Fortune, 17 May 2026
All those pieces of myself, scattered across a digital ocean, chewed up and spit out in less than 60 seconds.
—Erin Entrada Kelly, PEOPLE, 11 May 2026
Granite can tell us only so much, and the leaves scattered across the composition insist on the passage of time for any family, not just these.
—Casey Cep, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scattered
Adjective
-
The Tennessee Titans went back to the streets quizzing random people in their schedule reveal in a twist to the team’s 2023 schedule reveal.—
Teresa M. Walker,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
-
In 2019, Mohsin went to pick up his mother at her vegetable stand in Nyala, South Darfur, when armed men stormed the area and shot villagers at random.—
Annie Hylton,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
The Justice Department has said a five-member commission, with all members appointed by Blanche, will control how the funds are dispersed.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
20 May 2026
-
Tricks such as putting a container of ice cubes or a cold, wet sheet in front of the fan will lead to colder air being dispersed, as will hanging frozen water bottles from the back of the fan.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
An employee was also pepper-sprayed but did not suffer any injuries, according to police.—
Jason Green,
Mercury News,
14 May 2026
-
Video obtained by The Associated Press showed passengers on the tarmac donning similar suits and being sprayed down with disinfectant.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
If it can be said that a honeymoon period prevailed following the 2021 agreements, that sense of fellow feeling has long since dissipated.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
11 May 2026
-
Ballot propositions raising taxes for a specific popular need, but the funds go surprisingly into a general fund to be dissipated for political needs undisclosed to voters.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
The case has become one of the most emblematic examples cited by rights organizations accusing Venezuela’s security apparatus of using arbitrary detention, incommunicado imprisonment and forced disappearances against dissidents and suspected opponents.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
18 May 2026
-
Her work-from-home job requires her to maintain a minimum internet connection of 65 Mbps in downloads, which is subject to arbitrary testing.—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Cowboy hats, oversized belt buckles and Western boots dominated the arrivals for both men and women, while a few sprinkled in Vegas-worthy sparkle.—
Ryma Chikhoune,
Footwear News,
18 May 2026
-
The flavors are balanced even though the pistachio profile is front and center, and the addition of coconut and pistachios both in the cake and sprinkled on top keep it from feeling one-note.—
Maggie Meyer Glisan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
After it was announced in 2019 that the project’s release date had been moved to 2021, Sherlock Holmes 3 disappeared from the studio’s slate.—
Jack Smart,
PEOPLE,
20 May 2026
-
The 12-year search for answers has concluded for the family of Trukita Scott, a mother of two who suddenly disappeared in 2014.—
Joan Murray,
CBS News,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
The final show seemed to be marred by technical snafus, with stray sounds and glitches.—
Mark Kennedy,
Fortune,
23 May 2026
-
The stray bullet passed through his belly button, killing him almost instantly.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scattered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scattered. Accessed 26 May. 2026.
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