as in handful
a small number
played before only a scatter of spectators in that huge stadium
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Nov. 2025
Penix is very scatter-armed and sits in the pocket forever, almost as if frozen in amber, seemingly unaware that he is allowed to escape and buy time.
—Michael Salfino, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 9 Jan. 2026
To address the issue, the team used neutron scattering techniques at the High Intensity Diffractometer for Residual Stress Analysis (HIDRA), located at ORNL’s High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR).
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scatter
Noun
To get the look, scatter cut evergreen, red berry branches, pinecones, and white berries down the center of your table.
—Verb
The moment those grapes come off the vines and go into the tanks, hundreds of acres of vineyards scattered across the peninsulas open up for snowshoeing or Nordic skiing.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for scatter
Noun
-
The Razorbacks have as many as 30 scholarship players in the portal, and a small handful have already announced their destinations.—
-
Only a handful of exhausted cops, Hodges among them, stood in the breach.—
Verb
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Protesters at times refused orders to disperse, sitting in the roadway.—
-
That’s inevitable for any night that has Ozomatli performing in the first half-hour and dispersing through the aisles — right on the heels of the aforementioned kids’ choir performance.—
Verb
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Then, spray the outside of your oven door with a cleaner or use soapy water to wipe it down.—
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Researchers are also studying ways to cool the most endangered parts of the reef, like spraying salt water into clouds to deflect sunlight.—
Verb
-
If a kid understands the reason for the discrepancy, research seems to prove that the negative effects dissipate.—
-
The fog will likely linger through the early morning hours before dissipating by 9 am.—
Noun
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The couple was awarded citizenship in a private ceremony in the capital of Conakry on Friday.—
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Chelsea Vaughn Photography The couple moved into Brian's home and started their lives together.—
Verb
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Spray any tough-to-clean areas with a bit of vinegar and sprinkle with baking soda.—
-
Flaky phyllo dough is filled with zesty harissa sauce and halloumi cheese and sprinkled with breadcrumbs and paprika for a savory bite-sized snack.—
Verb
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That small body swathed like a mummy, our blind flight over the treetops, the prospect of disappearing in the middle of the jungle without a trace—all this converged to focus a singular intensity on the moment.—
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Last month, at least 16 files on the Department of Justice’s webpage that contained files on Epstein were reportedly found to have disappeared from its website, according to The Associated Press.—
Verb
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Cooper Flagg jerseys dotted the arena.—
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Kenneth Cole Classic Wool Walker Coat The three-button closure dotting the collar of this Kenneth Cole coat is unique yet totally timeless.—
Cite this Entry
“Scatter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scatter. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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