as in handfuls
a small number
played before only a scatter of spectators in that huge stadium
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in disperses
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 sprays
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 dissipates
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 scatters
Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 11 Dec. 2025
Their innovation, called retina E-paper, uses nanoparticles to control how light scatters, achieving lifelike color reproduction that can be tuned electrically.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
Weed scatters and falls between the wood slats.
—Matthew Shen Goodman, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Laura Kiniry, Popular Science, 22 Jan. 2026
This process — called Rayleigh scattering — scatters shorter-wavelength blue light and bends longer-wavelength red light toward the moon.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Everyone scatters — Zoë, Dinah, and Sarah are okay, while Malik is more compromised.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 Dec. 2025
Here, laser light is shone onto body tissues and the unique pattern of light that scatters back is analyzed, similar to how different materials reflect light in distinctive ways.
—Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 4 Dec. 2025
Before everyone scatters, Haley and Alex pull one last prank on Luke.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Nov. 2025
Tech companies are really just groups of talented people working toward a common goal, and a company’s failure usefully scatters them.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Stargazers will likely see the moon take on a yellow-orange hue during moonrise, as Earth's atmosphere scatters the shorter, bluer wavelengths of moonlight, while allowing the longer, redder wavelengths to journey through relatively unhindered.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 6 Oct. 2025
The moon appeared reddish due to the total lunar eclipse, which scatters sunflight filtering through Earth’s atmosphere.
—Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Noun
The Problem of Bureaucracy in Scaling Enterprises Business expansion scatters work across codebases, project management tools, chat platforms, and docs.
—Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 11 Dec. 2025
Their innovation, called retina E-paper, uses nanoparticles to control how light scatters, achieving lifelike color reproduction that can be tuned electrically.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
Weed scatters and falls between the wood slats.
—Matthew Shen Goodman, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
This coloring occurs because deep, compact ice absorbs light’s longer wavelengths—like reds and yellows—and scatters shorter blue wavelengths back toward our eyes.
—Laura Kiniry, Popular Science, 22 Jan. 2026
This process — called Rayleigh scattering — scatters shorter-wavelength blue light and bends longer-wavelength red light toward the moon.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Everyone scatters — Zoë, Dinah, and Sarah are okay, while Malik is more compromised.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 Dec. 2025
Here, laser light is shone onto body tissues and the unique pattern of light that scatters back is analyzed, similar to how different materials reflect light in distinctive ways.
—Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 4 Dec. 2025
Before everyone scatters, Haley and Alex pull one last prank on Luke.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Nov. 2025
Tech companies are really just groups of talented people working toward a common goal, and a company’s failure usefully scatters them.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Stargazers will likely see the moon take on a yellow-orange hue during moonrise, as Earth's atmosphere scatters the shorter, bluer wavelengths of moonlight, while allowing the longer, redder wavelengths to journey through relatively unhindered.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 6 Oct. 2025
The moon appeared reddish due to the total lunar eclipse, which scatters sunflight filtering through Earth’s atmosphere.
—Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scatters
Noun
-
Sprinkle a few handfuls of wood ashes around your hydrangea in early spring and water it in.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Police said three masked suspects committed that robbery and pepper-sprayed an employee before escaping with handfuls of merchandise.—
Rick Hurd,
Mercury News,
22 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
In a video posted on the organization’s site, which was verified by NBC News, a crowd disperses quickly as multiple gunshots ring out and a handful of men return to pick up a man bleeding from a head wound.—
Henry Austin,
NBC news,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The most satisfying moments come when all the chaotic ephemera disperses to make space for shimmering, ambient chords.—
H.D. Angel,
Pitchfork,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The warmer temperatures also mean ski areas have been unable to run snowmaking equipment, which sprays mist into the air to create snow in freezing temperatures.—
Nicole Blanchard,
Idaho Statesman,
21 Nov. 2025
-
If this is the version of Smith that sprays the ball around to his playmakers and threw four touchdowns against the Jaguars last week, the Raiders can hang.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Over time, this builds solid trust because both partners learn to address their mistakes honestly, and the urge to bury the argument slowly dissipates.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Even after the storm dissipates, the frigid temperatures could prolong its effects, making snow and ice more difficult to clear.—
Bailey Allen,
The Providence Journal,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Phase 3, a large-scale study for which couples are recruited, will further assess pregnancy prevention as well as when fertility returns after discontinuation.—
Ana Castelain,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Because these monthly financial disagreements could erode your relationship, please consider couples counseling in order to work out a plan that is fair for all parties concerned.—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Much like Knives Out, the movie takes a much more lighthearted approach and sprinkles humor throughout.—
Keith Langston,
PEOPLE,
15 Dec. 2025
-
The shareable treat features Galactic Brownie ice cream, fudge drizzle, M&Ms candies, and Halloween sprinkles atop a double fudge brownie crust.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
As of February 25, 2026, that right disappears as the Home Office enforces new rules of entry.—
Duncan Madden,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
In Weapons, from writer-director Zach Cregger, a small town is thrown into paranoia and terror when an entire classroom of children mysteriously disappears on the same night.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Barnett dots up Knight for a 57-yard catch-and-run.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Rather than the stiff alien chitchat that dots his own screenplays, the characters in The Favourite trade the witty, venomous bon mots of The Great creator Tony McNamara.—
A.A. Dowd,
Vulture,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scatters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scatters. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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