as in handful
a small number
a smattering of guests at the art exhibit
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Recent Examples of smattering
Los Angeles Times, Boston Herald, 22 Dec. 2025
Mould said a mix of rising corporate profits, generous cash returns to shareholders and a smattering of M & A activity had propelled the FTSE 100 higher this year, helped by falling interest rates.
—Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 21 Dec. 2025
The party was sponsored by a smattering of investment firms and start-ups with names such as CodeRabbit and Bubble Computing.
—Lila Shroff, The Atlantic, 20 Dec. 2025
The rest of the box-office this weekend was a smattering of sub-$5 million performers.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 16 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smattering
Noun
The smattering of small earthquakes in Southern California generated significant, not altogether unwarranted, attention last year.
—Los Angeles Times, Boston Herald, 22 Dec. 2025
Mould said a mix of rising corporate profits, generous cash returns to shareholders and a smattering of M & A activity had propelled the FTSE 100 higher this year, helped by falling interest rates.
—Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 21 Dec. 2025
The party was sponsored by a smattering of investment firms and start-ups with names such as CodeRabbit and Bubble Computing.
—Lila Shroff, The Atlantic, 20 Dec. 2025
The rest of the box-office this weekend was a smattering of sub-$5 million performers.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 16 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smattering
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smattering
Noun
-
The Razorbacks have as many as 30 scholarship players in the portal, and a small handful have already announced their destinations.—
Tom Murphy,
Arkansas Online,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Only a handful of exhausted cops, Hodges among them, stood in the breach.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The couple was awarded citizenship in a private ceremony in the capital of Conakry on Friday.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Chelsea Vaughn Photography The couple moved into Brian's home and started their lives together.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Benito finds community with the like-minded Pleneros de la Cresta, who have been playing the island’s pattering folk music for over a decade.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
2 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Over a 14-year period, nine protection or restraining orders were filed against Barrett for incidents that involved the harassment or assault of at least six women; this included death threats, trolling on Instagram, and impersonating a police officer.—
Annette McGivney,
Outside,
9 Dec. 2025
-
Hegesth’s post is trolling, nothing more.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
2 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Now Carmelo can be seen at every Syracuse game, chattering constantly to Kiyan and his teammates.—
Lindsay Schnell,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
-
For the next 30 minutes, the remaining attendees and protesters stood in consternation, chattering nervously.—
Claudia Levens,
jsonline.com,
2 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
And when her furry black-and-white friend follows her — bleating at her heels, eager for more affection — Kusimayu keeps walking.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
24 Dec. 2025
-
But working with Stockholm Drain Gang veteran Bladee on the remix turns the song into a hyper-pop boss fight, with frenetic and bleating synths piling on the duo’s vocals.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
2 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
After sputtering at the beginning of 2026, the economy grew rapidly in the middle two quarters and is on pace to accelerate at a 3% pace in the fourth quarter, according to preliminary data from the Atlanta Fed.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
3 Jan. 2026
-
The fact that Stockton had to keep doing that was a reflection of the offense around him sputtering.—
Seth Emerson,
New York Times,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In an eventual 57-point Hurricanes victory, Stevenson was balling and jabbering about it, too, to every Wildcats pass catcher within earshot.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smattering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smattering. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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