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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
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
Copies of Peter Thiel’s Zero to One are scattered throughout the office.
—Richard Nieva, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Here, there are Damian Hirsts and Andy Warhols hanging on the walls, while dog toys are scattered on the floor and bare feet are propped up on coffee tables.
—Mark David, Robb Report, 2 Sep. 2025
Allegany County is home to an Ice Cream Trail that features nine delicious stops scattered throughout the region.
—Abby Price, Travel + Leisure, 2 Sep. 2025
There’s a hint of tongue-in-cheek irony in the way Van Sant nods to his ‘70s influences, as well as in the needle drops that are scattered throughout the film.
—Katie Rife, IndieWire, 2 Sep. 2025
The clothes were scattered across multiple rooms, but 90% of them were recovered, Scott tells NBC, adding that travelers should always place an AirTag in their luggage.
—PC Magazine, 2 Sep. 2025
The idea has not been popular, even in the staunchly conservative areas scattered across Missouri.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 30 Aug. 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
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
Copies of Peter Thiel’s Zero to One are scattered throughout the office.
—Richard Nieva, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Here, there are Damian Hirsts and Andy Warhols hanging on the walls, while dog toys are scattered on the floor and bare feet are propped up on coffee tables.
—Mark David, Robb Report, 2 Sep. 2025
Allegany County is home to an Ice Cream Trail that features nine delicious stops scattered throughout the region.
—Abby Price, Travel + Leisure, 2 Sep. 2025
There’s a hint of tongue-in-cheek irony in the way Van Sant nods to his ‘70s influences, as well as in the needle drops that are scattered throughout the film.
—Katie Rife, IndieWire, 2 Sep. 2025
The clothes were scattered across multiple rooms, but 90% of them were recovered, Scott tells NBC, adding that travelers should always place an AirTag in their luggage.
—PC Magazine, 2 Sep. 2025
The idea has not been popular, even in the staunchly conservative areas scattered across Missouri.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 30 Aug. 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
-
With tens of thousands of attendees having now dispersed, vital witnesses or clues could be lost.—
Matthew Robinson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
-
In that instance, a large number of officers arrived and dispersed the crowd through verbal commands.—
David Clarey,
jsonline.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
Mere knick-knacks, which have all disappeared with the vicissitudes of years.—
Adam Verner
September 3,
Literary Hub,
3 Sep. 2025
-
As Zamora came closer to the object within 150 years, the object lifted off with a roar and disappeared.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
These teams’ Aaron Rodgers/Justin Fields offseason QB swap earned this matchup a few stray votes from our Game of the Week panel.—
Greg Cote
September 4,
Miami Herald,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Indiana's own fall colors might arrive earlier because of potentially cold October temperatures and a stray windstorm or two from the Gulf.—
John Tufts,
IndyStar,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scattered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scattered. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share