1
as in dispersion
an act or process in which something scatters or is scattered
the scattering of the protesters suddenly turned violent and chaotic
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in handful
a small number
a scattering of people in the mostly empty theater
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in dispersing
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 spraying
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 dissipating
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 scattering
Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2025
The researchers have found a way to fine-tune these angstrom-scale pores to control how the material filters hydrogen ions, in order to produce proton beams with less scattering.
—IEEE Spectrum, 18 Aug. 2025
Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 5 Sep. 2025
However, this balance is unexpectedly shattered when a sudden rupture severs those connections, scattering their remnant powers across the land in the form of Anima.
—David Jagneaux, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scattering
Noun
In the Facebook comments accompanying the announcement, following a scattering of positive reactions, the conversation turned vitriolic.
—Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2025
The researchers have found a way to fine-tune these angstrom-scale pores to control how the material filters hydrogen ions, in order to produce proton beams with less scattering.
—IEEE Spectrum, 18 Aug. 2025
Verb
That’s what the positive Grassmannian is, and that’s where the connection between the mathematics of positive geometry and the physics of scattering amplitudes comes in.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 5 Sep. 2025
However, this balance is unexpectedly shattered when a sudden rupture severs those connections, scattering their remnant powers across the land in the form of Anima.
—David Jagneaux, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scattering
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scattering
Noun
-
The broad indexes have been steady near the flat line and just below record highs, held there by another run of extreme dispersion among groups of stocks.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
9 Sep. 2025
-
The biggest challenge to governance in Japan is not far-right populism but power dispersion and the gridlock that comes with it.—
Mireya Solís,
Foreign Affairs,
1 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Higher quality studies—specifically a handful of them that have taken genetics into consideration—have shown no link between prenatal acetaminophen use and autism risk, DeNicola says.—
Dominique Mosbergen,
Time,
23 Sep. 2025
-
There have been a handful of good plays, including a pass deflection.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Many others have also left quietly, dispersing across continents, carrying stories like mine.—
Sonny Alejandra,
Time,
18 Sep. 2025
-
But the protoplanetary disks around these massive stars only last around 2 million years before dispersing — and that's not quite enough time to create gas giants.—
Stefanie Waldek,
Space.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
As Bichette sat just beyond the reach of the spraying champagne, players walked over to him, dousing the shortstop.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
22 Sep. 2025
-
Rinse the solution by spraying water on the area.—
Quincy Bulin,
Southern Living,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The official reason is that the latter is 20x more efficient at dissipating heat than titanium, but cost might be the real reason.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
10 Sep. 2025
-
With a pressure resistance of up to 370 Newtons—which is around 37 times higher than standard memory cards—the cards should survive heavy impacts while also better dissipating thermal buildup during extended shooting sessions.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Creating majority-Black districts in the South has been a longstanding remedy to the historic dispersal of minority populations across multiple districts to dilute their voting power.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Very little funding has actually been delivered, sources say, in part because Commerce has held up its dispersal.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
27 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Jillian was shot by police during an altercation outside the couple's LA home on April 8 when a hit-and-run incident led to a manhunt for three suspects in northeast Los Angeles County.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
27 Sep. 2025
-
And despite how things may have ended up for this couple, the beginning was absolutely perfect.—
James Factora,
Them.,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Common methods to combat the odor included washing the shoes and drying them in the sun; using spray deodorant; or sprinkling the shoes with an antibacterial powder.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Under the post that included romantic and silly shots of Neeson sprinkling some popcorn over her head, Joely left a string of red heart emojis in the comments section.—
Jen Juneau,
PEOPLE,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scattering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scattering. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share