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
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 scatters
Matthew Shen Goodman, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Everyone kind of scatters, but the people who are there every day are the actors.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2025
Anthony Wood, Space.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Outside of these moments, the audience scatters, the conversation splinters, and the mirage vanishes.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 25 Sep. 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
Yes, God confuses the language and scatters everyone, thereby creating linguistic and cultural diversity.
—John Fugelsang
september 12, Literary Hub, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
Weed scatters and falls between the wood slats.
—Matthew Shen Goodman, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Everyone kind of scatters, but the people who are there every day are the actors.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2025
Verb
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
Outside of these moments, the audience scatters, the conversation splinters, and the mirage vanishes.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 25 Sep. 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
Yes, God confuses the language and scatters everyone, thereby creating linguistic and cultural diversity.
—John Fugelsang
september 12, Literary Hub, 12 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scatters
Noun
-
Top the crust with a few handfuls of pecan halves, pour the filling on top, then drizzle with molasses.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Typically, by the time the first scene hits the screen, handfuls (more likely hordes) of people have had first looks including cast, crew, friends, family, media, agents, managers, publicists, etc.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
To combat the spread of the flies, the USDA disperses sterile flies into the area to stop the mating, a scientific method known as sterile insect technique (SIT).—
Lori Ann LaRocco,
CNBC,
21 Oct. 2025
-
As the scrum disperses, D’Angelo turns to you and slaps you five.—
Touré,
Rolling Stone,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Fittingly, these finals get a full seven-game layout, and the team to earn four wins lifts the trophy (then sprays the trophy with sparkling wine).—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
This is when water from a sprinkler head sprays out onto the sidewalk or street, and that's considered wasted water.—
Yvette Fernandez,
NPR,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
What the pair conceals might amplify the electricity between them—or provide cover if the charge dissipates.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
14 Oct. 2025
-
After the storm either moves away from the coast or completely dissipates, the East could get a brief reprieve from the dreary weather.—
Mary Gilbert,
CNN Money,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
However, the rights that these certificates grant are not equal to the rights afforded to straight couples.—
Abby Monteil,
Them.,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Whether couples are dancing to a silky smooth R&B ballad or an upbeat groove, the rhythm continues on with each dance move of the dance.—
Alexa Stone
Updated October 21,
Kansas City Star,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
The show also sprinkles in factoids about Daniel’s military past, his upbringing in Italy and his fractured family dynamic.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
White disappears completely into the role without skirting parody, portraying the exhausted hitmaker as startled by his own numbness, blanked out and unsure of what to do next.—
Sadie Sartini Garner,
Pitchfork,
24 Oct. 2025
-
That Makima disappears for most of the remaining drama and chaos reiterates the film’s episodic quality.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
The $3,211 per month maintenance fees cover a part-time doorman and a fitness studio, while the location provides easy access to Madison Square Park plus all the shopping and dining that dots the area.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
22 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scatters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scatters. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share