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
IEEE Spectrum, 10 June 2015
In spectroscopy, a substance either absorbs or scatters light, depending on how its molecules vibrate.
—Ambuj Tewari, The Conversation, 6 Mar. 2025
Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 12 May 2025
Crutchfield, whose nieces and nephews are scattered across Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi, also understands the importance of being a pillar in her family.
—Ronny Maye, Essence, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for scatter
Noun
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
In spectroscopy, a substance either absorbs or scatters light, depending on how its molecules vibrate.
—Ambuj Tewari, The Conversation, 6 Mar. 2025
Verb
Mahle allowed one run over 6 1/3 innings, scattering four hits and a walk.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 12 May 2025
Crutchfield, whose nieces and nephews are scattered across Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi, also understands the importance of being a pillar in her family.
—Ronny Maye, Essence, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for scatter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scatter
Noun
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The particular intersection of communities depicted here (LGBTQ and Muslim), as well as a handful of Sapphic scenes for the ages, gives the drama an undeniable jolt of freshness.—
Jon Frosch,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2025
-
While Pompeo's Meredith has narrated the entirety of season 21, she's only made a handful of in-person appearances at Grey Sloan.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
16 May 2025
Verb
-
Neighboring municipalities were notified and provided immediate mutual aid to the Edison Police Department to disperse the crowd.—
Toria Sheffield,
People.com,
18 May 2025
-
But after the sun went down and the spectators dispersed, the winds changed, violently scattering the balloons around Normandy and across the English Channel into England.—
Joseph Howlett,
Quanta Magazine,
16 May 2025
Verb
-
The eight-seat boat has on-board and onshore water cannons so riders can spray other boats while navigating the river channel.—
Catherine Muccigrosso,
Charlotte Observer,
20 May 2025
-
Luckily, several herbicides available to spray on the invading grass can be used among ornamental plants listed on the products’ labels.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
17 May 2025
Verb
-
Now Trump is back in office and flirting openly with authoritarianism—but the defiant energy that swept the arts during his first administration seems dissipated and tentative.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
22 May 2025
-
Whatever was bottling up the Mets’ offense over the last week finally dissipated in a 5-1 win over the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night at Fenway Park.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
22 May 2025
Noun
-
Joel Coen’s last solo feature as director was The Tragedy of Macbeth with Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand as the power-hungry Scottish couple.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
23 May 2025
-
For many couples, moving in together marks a major relationship milestone but as one man quickly discovered, his girlfriend and her cats come as a package deal.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 May 2025
Verb
-
There are access points sprinkled across the waterfront.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
23 May 2025
-
To add a Tajín or salt rim, sprinkle a thin layer of Tajín or fine sea salt into a shallow bowl or plate.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
Denver Post,
20 May 2025
Verb
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The film is also an introspective interrogation of Cruise's stardom, confronting its main character with uncomfortable realities: his world is artificial, insulated, and fleeting, and his multimillion-dollar good looks could disappear in an instant.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
24 May 2025
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Julius Randle was one of the bright spots in Game 1, but disappeared in Game 2, scoring just six points with five rebounds on 2-for-11 shooting.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 May 2025
Verb
-
And today, over a century after logging ceased in 1918, Converse Basin Grove remains a patchwork of young conifer plantations and open meadows dotted with massive stumps.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2025
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Inside, three bedrooms and four baths are spread across almost 2,300 square feet of multi-level living space boasting a mix of stone and wide-plank French oak floors, arched doorways, and whitewashed wood-beam ceilings dotted with skylights.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
23 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scatter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scatter. Accessed 30 May. 2025.
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