scatter 1 of 2

scatter

2 of 2

verb

1
2
as in to spray
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 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

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb scatter differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of scatter are dispel, disperse, and dissipate. While all these words mean "to cause to separate or break up," scatter implies a force that drives parts or units irregularly in many directions.

the bowling ball scattered the pins

When could dispel be used to replace scatter?

The meanings of dispel and scatter largely overlap; however, dispel stresses a driving away or getting rid of as if by scattering.

an authoritative statement that dispelled all doubt

In what contexts can disperse take the place of scatter?

The words disperse and scatter are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, disperse implies a wider separation and a complete breaking up of a mass or group.

police dispersed the crowd

Where would dissipate be a reasonable alternative to scatter?

In some situations, the words dissipate and scatter are roughly equivalent. However, dissipate stresses complete disintegration or dissolution and final disappearance.

the fog was dissipated by the morning sun

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of scatter
Noun
They are tinted with colors when the setting Sun scatters light. Kerry Breen, CBS News, 12 Feb. 2025 The savory meal is complemented by a tangy scatter of pickled slaw, a perfect punctuation. Matthew Odam, Austin American-Statesman, 24 May 2024
Verb
Those nodules are scattered by the trillion across the sandy seabed of the Clarion Clipperton Zone, an area about half the size of the contiguous U.S. that sits between Hawaii and Mexico. Daniel Ackerman, NPR, 27 Mar. 2025 Mining the Clarion-Clipperton Zone Beneath the Pacific Ocean southeast of Hawaii, a hidden treasure trove of polymetallic nodules can be found scattered across the seafloor. Alexus Cazares-Nuesser, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for scatter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scatter
Noun
  • The distinctive design requires a level of skill that only a handful of glassblowers possess.
    Rachel King, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
  • The show does a solid job of showing us what day-to-day Aiel society looks like through just a handful of characters, including Rhuarc's other wife Lian and his granddaughter Alsera.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 28 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Police used a water cannon to disperse the crowd after protesters tried to break through police barricades.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 21 Mar. 2025
  • In the confusion, she was detained, then charged with failure to disperse and blocking the sidewalk.
    Andy Rose, CNN, 20 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Pour or spray hydrogen peroxide over the baking soda.
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Court documents allege that Nelson traveled to a Tesla dealership in Loveland, Colo., on multiple nights in January and February, allegedly lighting Molotov cocktails and throwing them in the dealership's parking lot and spraying graffiti on the building's windows and walls.
    Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 20 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Then, the slim filaments dissipate, releasing their contents back into the CMZ.
    Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 20 Mar. 2025
  • The rhythmic undulation of this dissipating seiche—slamming massive amounts of water back and forth against the fjord’s rocky walls—is what ultimately caused the nine-day-long monotonous hum observed around the world.
    Darren Orf, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Starring Richard Gere and Julia Roberts, this Cinderella story of an unlikely couple saving each other against all odds premiered on March 23, 1990.
    Kate Hogan, People.com, 23 Mar. 2025
  • While waiting on a nice British couple, Alex accidentally inserts herself into their political conversation.
    Matt Cabral, EW.com, 23 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • To add scouring power, sprinkle kosher salt on the lemon, which acts as a gentle abrasive to scour away odor-causing buildup and residue.
    Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Mar. 2025
  • Will people obey this new law and stop eating this ingredient, cease and desist from mixing its powder with their milk, sprinkling it onto their ice-cream?
    Walter E Block, Orange County Register, 22 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • South Korean family mysteriously disappears on drive from Grand Canyon to Las Vegas.
    Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Denise, her sister-in-law and the child had stopped inside a butcher shop when James disappeared.
    KC Baker, People.com, 22 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The rest of the year, aside from the occasional sunbather, the area is mostly used by geese, who often leave the lawn dotted with their excrement.
    Kale Williams, Axios, 25 Mar. 2025
  • Bike lanes and in-lane bus stops with boarding islands are featured along the road in the bucolic neighborhood dotted with high-end boutiques and trendy restaurants.
    Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 22 Mar. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Scatter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scatter. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on scatter

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!