spatter

1 of 2

verb

spat·​ter ˈspa-tər 

spattered; spattering; spatters

intransitive verb

: to spurt forth in scattered drops

blood spattering everywhere

transitive verb

1

: to splash with or as if with a liquid

also : to soil in this way

his coat was spattered with mud

2

: to scatter by or as if by splashing

spatter water

3

: to cover with or as if with splashes or spots

4

: to cast aspersions on : defame

spattered my reputation

spatter

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: the act or process of spattering : the state of being spattered

b

: the noise of spattering

2

a

: a drop or splash spattered on something or a spot or stain due to spattering

b

: a small amount or number : sprinkle

a spatter of applause

Synonyms of spatter

Verb

• splash

Noun

• splash
• sprinkling
• speck
• shred
• glimmer
• hint
• bit
• touch
• lick
• little
• trace
• particle

Examples of spatter in a Sentence

Verb

The dog jumped in the pool and spattered us with water.

His clothes were spattered with paint.

When you cook bacon, the grease spatters everywhere.

He showed me how to use the paintbrush so the paint wouldn't spatter.

Noun

There were grease spatters all over the wall.

The floor was covered with spatters of paint.

There was a lot of paint spatter on the floor.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

In a Towie-style home, her former close friend Cee, who is married to Marcus’s brother Mario (Agamemnon), hosts a tense event to mark her return – blood-spattered and still in shock. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 18 Sep. 2026

It was also noted that whoever committed the murders would likely have been spattered with blood given the violent nature of the attacks. — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Sep. 2026

Noun

Add the pumpkin puree and stir well, cover partially (the mixture will get bubbly and spatter), reduce the heat to medium-low, and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened. — ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026

Suspicions quickly turned to Lizzie as the murderer, even though police were summoned almost immediately and Lizzie showed no signs of blood spatter, on either her clothing or hair. — Steve Belanger, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

akin to Frisian spatterje to spatter, Middle Dutch bespatten to splash

First Known Use

Verb

1600, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1797, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for spatter

• atter
• batter
• blatter
• catarrh
• chatter
• clatter
• fatter
• flatter
• hatter
• latter
• matter
• natter

Kids Definition

spatter

1 of 2 verb

spat·​ter ˈspat-ər 

1

: to splash with drops or small bits of something wet

spatter the paper with paint

2

: to scatter by splashing

spattered mud all over my coat

spatter

2 of 2 noun

1

: the act or sound of spattering

2

: a drop or splash spattered on something : a spot or stain due to spattering