as in handful
a small number
a smattering of guests at the art exhibit
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Recent Examples of smattering
Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2025
The box contained a smattering of items, including ammunition, building materials, four cell phones and handwritten letters.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2025
Plus some anti-vaxxers, a smattering of Jacobites, and a couple of millenarians.
—Zadie Smith, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
An August visit to the Iowa State Fair that reflects Gallego’s consideration as a potential presidential candidate drew a smattering of protesters whom the Des Moines Register characterized as linked to Kirk’s Turning Point organizations.
—Ronald J. Hansen, AZCentral.com, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smattering
Verb
Founder Olivier Van den Broeck will be joined at the party by staff, company partners and a smattering of international execs from companies such as Rocket Science, Black Bear, The Veterans and Neon.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2025
The box contained a smattering of items, including ammunition, building materials, four cell phones and handwritten letters.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2025
Plus some anti-vaxxers, a smattering of Jacobites, and a couple of millenarians.
—Zadie Smith, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
An August visit to the Iowa State Fair that reflects Gallego’s consideration as a potential presidential candidate drew a smattering of protesters whom the Des Moines Register characterized as linked to Kirk’s Turning Point organizations.
—Ronald J. Hansen, AZCentral.com, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smattering
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smattering
Noun
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But there were a handful of plays that really showed the breadth of his ability and his growth as a quarterback.—
Nicki Jhabvala,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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Taking Over America The first target is America, and everyone in MotoGP talks about the importance of breaking through stateside, where the sport is followed by a handful of extremely passionate fans, but not on the radar of anyone else.—
Erik Shilling,
Robb Report,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Spirit Halloween's fantastic costume sets can work for couples or groups of up to four.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
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The mistake tortures them, which prompts the couple to try and solve the mystery by producing a fake play in an attempt to get their ex-neighbor Mary (Chloe Cherry) to audition.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Trump has deployed troops in American cities, issued (and changed) widespread tariffs and stirred many a controversy in the name of trolling his political opponents.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
2 Oct. 2025
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New York — Swatch, the Swiss watchmaker, is trolling the 39% tariffs that the United States placed on its home country by selling a watch that flips the location of the 3 and 9 numerals.—
Jordan Valinsky,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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After much chattering about the status of the Oscar winner’s seemingly clean-cut visage in the lead-up to the film’s premiere at the Venice Film Festival, once the camera (actually, four cameras) train themselves on Stone’s noggin during the film’s first act, there’s no doubt.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
5 Sep. 2025
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This obviously includes scoring a reservation at Oreade, where Bacciottini turns to the land and tradition for the menu—and enjoying quiet mornings where breakfast looks out to Tuscany’s famous rolling hills, with birds and cicadas chattering in the background.—
Jenn Rice,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The right is being horrifyingly plain in bleating their bigotry, but they’re also lost in linguistic obscurities.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In August, a single-engine Piper PA-28 crash landed on southbound Interstate 805 in Sorrento Valley after the pilot noticed the engine was sputtering and losing power.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Sep. 2025
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But the extent to which its defense is sputtering may be a surprise.—
Robert Marvi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smattering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smattering. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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