as in handful
a small number
played before only a scatter of spectators in that huge stadium
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to disperse
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
3
as in to dissipate
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 scatter
Kelly Brant, Arkansas Online, 8 Apr. 2025
Muscle fiber scatters light both parallel to and perpendicular to the direction of the muscle fiber, and that scattering changes when the muscle contracts.
—IEEE Spectrum, 10 June 2015
Erin Clements, People.com, 5 June 2025
Rather than capturing the light reflected directly from the object, the system measures how the laser light is scattered by the surrounding space.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for scatter
Noun
Drizzle with dressing and finish with a generous grind of black pepper and a scatter of croutons, if desired.
Makes 4 servings.
—Kelly Brant, Arkansas Online, 8 Apr. 2025
Muscle fiber scatters light both parallel to and perpendicular to the direction of the muscle fiber, and that scattering changes when the muscle contracts.
—IEEE Spectrum, 10 June 2015
Verb
The former Philadelphia Eagles center, 37, poses in front of the eatery in one shot, while another photo shows sandwiches, pancakes and other dishes scattered across a table.
—Erin Clements, People.com, 5 June 2025
Rather than capturing the light reflected directly from the object, the system measures how the laser light is scattered by the surrounding space.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for scatter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scatter
Noun
-
But only Lucas and a handful of the faux-film’s other cinematographers are human.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
8 June 2025
-
The new provision would have benefited Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, Pritzker’s two-time running mate who’s running for U.S. Senate, and a handful of state legislators who’ve declared their candidacies for the U.S. House.—
Ray Long,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2025
Verb
-
Impact grants now allow up to $20,000 to be dispersed per business.—
Erin Yarnall,
Chicago Tribune,
3 June 2025
-
Scientists are still searching for answers about how Y. pestis evolved and dispersed, but recent analysis of ancient and modern Y. pestis samples revealed how plague managed to persist among humans for hundreds of years after pandemic waves petered out.—
Mindy Weisberger,
CNN Money,
3 June 2025
Verb
-
Use a hose with moderate water pressure (not a power washer) to spray the whole thing down, clearing away cobwebs or other detritus that might have accumulated.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
3 June 2025
-
Cops said the attacker approached the 33-year-old driver and sprayed her in the face on May 19 around 8:40 a.m. inside a BX10 bus at Bainbridge Ave.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
1 June 2025
Verb
-
Remove from heat and add bourbon; return to heat and cook over medium, swirling pan frequently and spooning sugar mixture over cherries, until raw alcohol aroma mostly dissipates and cherries are soft, about 3 minutes.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
2 June 2025
-
Target store employee and customer excitement for Pride Month has dissipated as a result of the company’s shift, according to the senior leader.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
2 June 2025
Noun
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That proved to be the case for Whitney and Walker, as footage captured by the couple's wedding content creator, Julie Milne, of Soiree Social, shows.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 June 2025
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Husband and wife taxpayers had created a revocable grantor trust which historically had reported the trust’s income and tax items on the couple’s joint individual tax returns.—
Matthew L. Roberts,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
Verb
-
Remove from the heat and sprinkle the gelatin over the top and let stand for about 5 minutes.—
Georgeanne Brennan,
Mercury News,
5 June 2025
-
It’s topped with various treats like toffee pieces, caramel popcorn, and golden star sprinkles.—
Kimberly Zapata,
Parents,
3 June 2025
Verb
-
In a single week in June 2008, roughly 900 people at nine newspapers were informed their jobs would disappear.—
Megan Greenwell,
Rolling Stone,
5 June 2025
-
All the Ubaldo family possessions disappeared; dead bodies littered the devastation.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
5 June 2025
Verb
-
Starting from the broad goal of providing more shade, the process expanded in 2021 and eventually resulted in the planters that now dot the streets.—
Thomas E. Weber,
Time,
6 June 2025
-
Below the artwork, fresh plantings of pincushion protea flowers in a rainbow of colors dot a linear garden, brightening up a path students and teachers will walk every day.—
Karen Billing,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scatter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scatter. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.
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