scatterings

noun

plural of scattering
1
as in dispersions
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 handfuls
a small number a scattering of people in the mostly empty theater

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 scatterings The animals were now found only in the high Rocky Mountains and in scatterings along the Pacific Coast. — Literary Hub, 10 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scatterings
  1. dispersions
  2. handfuls
  3. dispersals
  4. couples
  5. scatters
Noun
  • Stable dispersions lasted for up to a month, supported by strong negative zeta potentials in both water and ethanol.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 20 Dec. 2025
  • The lens design features 16 elements, including four extra-low dispersions (ED) elements and three aspherical elements, along with Nikon's advanced lens coatings to minimize chromatic aberration and ghosting even in challenging lighting conditions.
    — Harry Bennett, Space.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Definition of dispersions
Noun
  • One account describes pouring 40 handfuls of water, each accompanied by good wishes; another describes pouring water 40 times over the newborn’s head using an eggshell.
    — Shushan Karapetian, The Conversation, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Most of us would rather avoid climbing a ladder to pull handfuls of wet leaves out of the gutters, but a little prevention can pay off.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of handfuls
Noun
  • In general, however, the law itself, as well as the difficulties of enforcing it in outlying districts, favored the settlers, and massacres, incursions, poisonings, and forced dispersals usually went unpunished.
    — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Mar. 2026
Definition of dispersals
Noun
  • Tens of thousands of same-sex couples have built their lives here in Virginia, creating homes, raising children, and contributing to their communities.
    — Virginia Mercury, Washington Post, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Big families sit right next to groups of girlfriends and couples on date nights.
    — Jessica Jungbauer, Vogue, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of couples
Noun
  • If Cruz’s support scatters across two films, neither performance may crack the top five and if concentrated on one, she could be deemed far safer.
    — Clayton Davis, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Pea gravel shifts and scatters.
    — Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 30 Apr. 2026
Definition of scatters

Browse Nearby Words

scattering
scatterings
scatters
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Scatterings.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scatterings. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of Pyrrhic

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

The Words of the Week - Oct. 30

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
couple-laugh-cafe
Quiz: Foreign Phrases You Should Know Check out your bona fides and avoid any faux pas.
See All