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
Bianca Betancourt, CNN Money, 2 June 2026
To better understand what happens under these extreme conditions, researchers use X-ray scattering.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 26 May 2026
Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 5 June 2026
But creating a play pocket for a kid isn’t as easy as scattering toys around the house.
—Jillian Pretzel, Parents, 5 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for scattering
Noun
To their surprise, there are only seven small boxes, containing photos, sketches, notes, and a scattering of trinkets to go through.
—Bianca Betancourt, CNN Money, 2 June 2026
To better understand what happens under these extreme conditions, researchers use X-ray scattering.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 26 May 2026
Verb
Security footage reportedly shows a man opening a package, scattering some of its contents, and setting several items on fire in an alley behind the historic building.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 5 June 2026
But creating a play pocket for a kid isn’t as easy as scattering toys around the house.
—Jillian Pretzel, Parents, 5 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for scattering
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scattering
Noun
-
Their image quality is further enhanced by the inclusion of Canon’s proprietary UD (ultra-low dispersion) lens elements and Super Spectra coating.—
Chris McMullen,
Space.com,
15 June 2026
-
Since April 2026, world stock market return dispersion has hit levels not seen since the peak of the dotcom bubble.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
An individual holds a handful of hail pellets in Waite Park, Minnesota, after storms rolled through on June 19, 2026.—
Nick Lentz,
CBS News,
20 June 2026
-
The following are a handful of the most interesting and eye-opening revelations contained in the 2026 Emmys ballots.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
20 June 2026
Verb
-
The superintendent highlighted the teen trend at 57th Street Beach during Memorial Day weekend when officers made 70 arrests and recovered 15 guns while dispersing people from the lakefront.—
Caroline Kubzansky,
Chicago Tribune,
15 June 2026
-
Instead of dispersing evenly over the lawn after they are cut by the mower blades, wet clippings clump together and fall on the lawn in piles or clog your mower deck.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Maintain its wariness of people by throwing a small object at it, making a loud noise or spraying it with a hose.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
17 June 2026
-
Cabrera walked the first two batters of the fifth inning, spraying uncompetitive pitches all around the zone, then got Colorado’s Edouard Julien to strike out looking.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
Cristina dumped rain across Central America late last week before dissipating.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
15 June 2026
-
Worries are accelerating that the burst of inflation is broadening, as the jump in oil prices starts to spread through the economy and raise expectations that inflation isn’t dissipating anytime soon.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
In addition to dispersal ordinance and a proposal to pressure social media companies to remove posts advertising parties, aldermen are also preparing an ordinance that would implement a scale of fines for parents whose children are apprehended at such gatherings, Hopkins added.—
Caroline Kubzansky,
Chicago Tribune,
15 June 2026
-
Starting on Tuesday, June 9, aerial dispersal flights originating from the sterile fly dispersal facility at Moore Air Base in Edinburg, Texas, will begin.—
Mateo Rosiles,
USA Today,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
For the couple, Fan Fest provided the perfect competitive backdrop.—
Abby Dodge,
CBS News,
20 June 2026
-
Also on Monday, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani seemed to confirm that at least part of the couple’s wedding festivities will take place in New York over Fourth of July weekend.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
20 June 2026
Verb
-
Clean the oven racks separately by spraying them with white vinegar and sprinkling them with baking soda.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
13 June 2026
-
During Tuesday’s practice, which was the first of three on-field sessions this week, the Dolphins opened up the play-action game during the first 11-on-11 period by sprinkling in some running plays.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scattering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scattering. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
