1
as in dispersion
an act or process in which something scatters or is scattered
the scattering of the protesters suddenly turned violent and chaotic
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in handful
a small number
a scattering of people in the mostly empty theater
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in dispersing
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 spraying
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 dissipating
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 scattering
Jesse Granger, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025
Forward scattering can make a comet appear significantly brighter, especially when the phase angle is high.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 9 Jan. 2025
Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Dec. 2024
Cluster artillery popped open, scattering scores of lethal submunitions.
—David Axe, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for scattering
Noun
Doing so has become increasingly complicated with the scattering of broadcasts across over-the-air antennas, cable packages and streaming services.
—Jesse Granger, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025
Forward scattering can make a comet appear significantly brighter, especially when the phase angle is high.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 9 Jan. 2025
Verb
When preparing your impressive dessert spread this holiday season, consider scattering in a few of these limited-time cookies to add a touch of color to your platter.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Dec. 2024
Cluster artillery popped open, scattering scores of lethal submunitions.
—David Axe, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for scattering
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scattering
Noun
-
There is a dispersion of actors, organizations and relationships on both sides of the border involved in drug trafficking.—
Anna Lagos,
WIRED,
24 Jan. 2025
-
The map below gives an estimation of the geographic dispersion of crypto investors.—
Javier Paz,
Forbes,
28 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
But there were a handful of doozies, including: — That DOGE had found hundreds of billions in fraud, but DOGE's numbers just don't add up.—
Domenico Montanaro,
NPR,
5 Mar. 2025
-
There aren’t many places to sit, save for a few folding chairs and tables here and there; only a handful of the home’s six bedrooms have mattresses in them propped up against walls.—
Paula Mejía,
Billboard,
5 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Safety-net programs Programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps, and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women Infants and Children (WIC) will continue dispersing aid during a shutdown.—
Brian Bennett,
TIME,
20 Dec. 2024
-
Try making your own candles, or dispersing the scent with essential oils or a stovetop simmer pot.—
Halee Miller Van Ryswyk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
This long-standing separation suggests that island arcs and shifting land masses may have once provided a pathway for dispersal, only to later become isolated through geological changes.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes,
1 Mar. 2025
-
The dispersals are stirring bitter memories of the 1948 war over Israel’s creation, when some 750,000 Palestinians were expelled from or fled their homes in what’s now Israel.—
Julia Frankel,
TIME,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The couple was last photographed together on March 28, 2024, at Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen in Santa Fe.—
Kevin Dolak,
The Hollywood Reporter,
28 Feb. 2025
-
Ani remains resistant to the annulment, and Toros' attempt to initiate it is rejected by the court since the couple was married in Nevada, not New York.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
The inquiry into their use came during a 2023 dispute between the city and the Crane Boulevard Safety Coalition, which stumbled on the disappearing messages after the city approved the construction of a home in Mount Washington.—
Barnini Chakraborty,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
23 Dec. 2024
-
Attorneys for the coalition learned about the disappearing messages through the lawsuit’s discovery process.—
Tony Barboza,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
My air purifiers’ internal sensors, some using the same technology as my air quality monitors—a tiny chamber where a beam of light scatters picking up the particulates, even the invisible PM 2.5—automatically cranked up their fans.—
Lisa Wood Shapiro,
WIRED,
7 Dec. 2024
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They are tinted with colors when the setting Sun scatters light.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
12 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
This liquid exfoliant penetrates deep into the pores, dissolving the buildup of excess oil and dead skin cells, which helps to prevent clogged pores and breakouts because, yes, acne can still be an issue as you age.—
Jordan Galloway,
SELF,
3 Jan. 2025
-
The president of the United States was mentally collapsing, and nobody outside of conservative dissidents wanted to talk about it until Joe Biden forced the matter upon us all by dissolving in public.—
The Editors,
National Review,
3 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scattering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scattering. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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