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
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Recent Examples of scattering
Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 29 May 2025
Her matching set consisted of a pencil skirt and blazer cinched with a belt, all of which featured a scattering of white polka dots against a sky blue fabric.
—Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 19 May 2025
Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Dec. 2024
Cluster artillery popped open, scattering scores of lethal submunitions.
—David Axe, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for scattering
Noun
The remains — which included a skull and a scattering of separated bones — were collected from the beach destination and are slated to undergo forensic analysis to determine their origin and age, Newsweek reported.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 29 May 2025
Her matching set consisted of a pencil skirt and blazer cinched with a belt, all of which featured a scattering of white polka dots against a sky blue fabric.
—Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 19 May 2025
Verb
When preparing your impressive dessert spread this holiday season, consider scattering in a few of these limited-time cookies to add a touch of color to your platter.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Dec. 2024
Cluster artillery popped open, scattering scores of lethal submunitions.
—David Axe, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for scattering
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scattering
Noun
-
Their familiarity with Iberian language and culture, combined with the dispersion of their community, positioned them to participate in the new global economy: trade in sugar, textiles, spices – and the trade in human lives, Atlantic slavery.—
Flora Cassen,
The Conversation,
27 June 2025
-
The standard deviation measures price volatility, so the bands widen during periods of high volatility and contract during periods of low volatility, visually representing the dispersion of prices around the mean.—
Michael Khouw,
CNBC,
23 June 2025
Noun
-
With that, Zoox will soon go up against Waymo – which has been around for a while now and is partnering with Uber to operate in a handful of US cities.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
20 June 2025
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Quiver Distribution’s Australian prison drama Inside, the directorial debut of Charles Williams, starring Guy Pearce, Cosmo Jarvis and Vincent Miller, opens at the Lumiere in L, a handful of locations in NY Boston, Cleveland and Minneapolis, and on demand.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
20 June 2025
Verb
-
There are already laws in Florida governing weather modification, which can include cloud seeding—the enhancement of precipitation by dispersing substances into clouds that encourage the formation of rain or snow.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
19 Mar. 2025
-
These pollutants can come from a variety of sources, including vehicle emissions, industrial activity, wildfires, and weather patterns that prevent pollution from dispersing.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
17 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
First Evidence Found from Mastodon Tusk Ancient Impact on Modern-Day Ecosystem The loss of mastodons greatly reduced seed dispersal for several of these fruit-bearing species.—
Monica Cull,
Discover Magazine,
16 June 2025
-
The ants threaten native ant species, which play crucial roles in seed dispersal.—
Jenna Sundel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 June 2025
Noun
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According to People, the couple hosted a welcome party for their guests in a closed cloister adjacent to the Madonna dell'Orto church Thursday night.—
Janelle Ash , Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
28 June 2025
-
But a Russian drone attack on the city of Odesa hit a high-rise building, killing a married couple and injuring at least 14 other people, according to local authorities.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 June 2025
Verb
-
Can’t Look Away, in part, focuses on the Social Media Victims Law Center and its lawsuit against Snapchat on behalf of families whose children met tragic ends after consuming counterfeit prescription drugs acquired through the disappearing messaging app run by parent Snap.—
Etan Vlessing,
The Hollywood Reporter,
21 Mar. 2025
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While remote work isn’t disappearing, the era of full-time remote freedom may be ending for many workers.—
Jason Wingard,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Artists love this paper for its heft and how the visible pulp scatters light in their paintings.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
16 June 2025
-
Fast-food and healthcare spend has been particularly strong in second-quarter scatter, although Johnston acknowledged that investment across the direct-to-consumer space has been disrupted by a glut in supply.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
11 May 2025
Verb
-
The choir leaned over him offering words of motivation, and rain doused the flames as Kirk Franklin marched up to a stage beating back smoke with an orange glow, like sunlight dissolving cloud cover.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
28 Mar. 2025
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Even some downstate Republicans oppose the movement, arguing that dissolving townships will lead to tax hikes.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scattering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scattering. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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