as in random
lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern
a hodgepodge of scattered ideas that didn't add up to a clear hypothesis
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in dispersed
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 sprayed
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 dissipated
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 scattered
Literary Hub, 15 Apr. 2026
Within minutes of leaving town, the pavement twists downward through tight turns and steep grades as the mountain air begins to warm, the vegetation giving way to chaparral and scattered juniper, then to the stark silhouettes of ocotillo and Mojave yucca.
—Josh Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Another concern is the protection of Route 90, the only highway connecting the small and scattered communities of the north, on which the 27-year-old woman was killed last week.
—Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026
Earlier sunshine way to clouds and scattered rain as the first, in a series, of passing systems brings brief wet weather to Maryland.
—Cutter Martin, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
And in legislative committees and in debate on Wednesday, sponsors of the new requirement didn’t cite evidence of more than scattered cases in which non-citizens may have voted.
—Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2026
The scattered protests erupted Saturday at universities following 40-day memorials for people killed in January during anti-government rallies.
—Jon Gambrell, Fortune, 22 Feb. 2026
Instead of building individual homes on scattered sites, Reclaiming Chicago aims to transform whole neighborhoods at once, sometimes taking over large vacant lots and planting groups of more than 100 affordable homes.
—Brian J. Rogal, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
More scattered sleet, snow and ice are expected for the afternoon, before widespread precipitation is predicted to return Saturday night.
—Julia James, Dallas Morning News, 24 Jan. 2026
Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 27 Apr. 2026
In practice, it is scattered, inconsistently formatted, and largely inaccessible.
—Jessica Binns, Vogue, 27 Apr. 2026
The rest of us have something like one theater group (now defunct; members scattered) and one literary journal (still going, just with different names on the masthead) under our belts.
—Literary Hub, 27 Apr. 2026
Those cheers — for the opposing team in Atlanta — grew even louder 30 seconds later, when Karl-Anthony Towns briefly checked out of the game, met by a standing ovation from Knicks fans scattered across the arena.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
Banquet chairs toppled and maroon napkins scattered across the floor.
—Michael Collins, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2026
Their children scattered their scooters and bikes about the block.
—Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Police said people quickly scattered, with some fleeing in cars and others running on foot.
—Cbs News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026
This was an early morning brawl that left hair scattered across the floor and welts upon at least one of the heads, although there were likely more.
—Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
There are a few, scattered references to female gladiators.
—Literary Hub, 15 Apr. 2026
Within minutes of leaving town, the pavement twists downward through tight turns and steep grades as the mountain air begins to warm, the vegetation giving way to chaparral and scattered juniper, then to the stark silhouettes of ocotillo and Mojave yucca.
—Josh Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Another concern is the protection of Route 90, the only highway connecting the small and scattered communities of the north, on which the 27-year-old woman was killed last week.
—Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026
Earlier sunshine way to clouds and scattered rain as the first, in a series, of passing systems brings brief wet weather to Maryland.
—Cutter Martin, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
And in legislative committees and in debate on Wednesday, sponsors of the new requirement didn’t cite evidence of more than scattered cases in which non-citizens may have voted.
—Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2026
The scattered protests erupted Saturday at universities following 40-day memorials for people killed in January during anti-government rallies.
—Jon Gambrell, Fortune, 22 Feb. 2026
Instead of building individual homes on scattered sites, Reclaiming Chicago aims to transform whole neighborhoods at once, sometimes taking over large vacant lots and planting groups of more than 100 affordable homes.
—Brian J. Rogal, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
More scattered sleet, snow and ice are expected for the afternoon, before widespread precipitation is predicted to return Saturday night.
—Julia James, Dallas Morning News, 24 Jan. 2026
Verb
Keep your pace simple and intentional so nothing gets scattered.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 27 Apr. 2026
In practice, it is scattered, inconsistently formatted, and largely inaccessible.
—Jessica Binns, Vogue, 27 Apr. 2026
The rest of us have something like one theater group (now defunct; members scattered) and one literary journal (still going, just with different names on the masthead) under our belts.
—Literary Hub, 27 Apr. 2026
Those cheers — for the opposing team in Atlanta — grew even louder 30 seconds later, when Karl-Anthony Towns briefly checked out of the game, met by a standing ovation from Knicks fans scattered across the arena.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
Banquet chairs toppled and maroon napkins scattered across the floor.
—Michael Collins, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2026
Their children scattered their scooters and bikes about the block.
—Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Police said people quickly scattered, with some fleeing in cars and others running on foot.
—Cbs News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026
This was an early morning brawl that left hair scattered across the floor and welts upon at least one of the heads, although there were likely more.
—Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scattered
Adjective
-
Those aren’t just random stories.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Law enforcement will also have random checkpoints throughout the county to catch impaired drivers, according to the department's website.—
Alexa Herrera,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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At the State Department, former officials said, Iran specialists at the counterterrorism bureau were dispersed to regional offices where counterterrorism is one of many priorities.—
Hannah Allam,
ProPublica,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The crowd finally dispersed, but protests continued for five more days.—
Catherine Garcia,
TheWeek,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Harold Wilken still remembers the moment nearly 30 years ago when he was sprayed with herbicides after a hose broke on his family farm in Danforth, Illinois.—
Christiana Freitag,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Sometimes the Flock license-plate reader cameras were sprayed with pink spray paint; other times they were struck with bats, hit with BB guns, or simply unscrewed.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi churned through phone calls with counterparts in Egypt, France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey this weekend – after regional hopes of further US-Iran talks dissipated.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2026
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Compared to the past two years data was collected, algae blooms dissipated quicker.—
Jacob Wycoff,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The fundamental processes governing brain health — genetics, neural and synaptic plasticity, and neuroinflammation — do not respect the arbitrary boundaries drawn between neurology and psychiatry.—
Eric J. Nestler,
STAT,
28 Apr. 2026
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White-Jacket did cause a stir with its discussion of the arbitrary and cruel use of flogging in the US Navy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Roast chickpeas to make a crunchy snack (that can also be sprinkled over salads and grain bowls).—
Lindsay Curtis,
Health,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Today, this custom has evolved into subtler hints of the color, quietly hidden in the bridal look or sprinkled throughout the events of the day.—
Rosie Jarman,
Vogue,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The late Queen herself once recognized the positive effect Harry and Meghan could have across the Commonwealth—and supporters say their influence has not disappeared.—
Simon Perry,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
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Since the 1970s more than a third of the world’s wetlands have disappeared, largely due to climate change and urbanization, at a rate that is three times faster than forest loss.—
Paige Bruton,
semafor.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Also eligible for reward is information on the death of Iran Moreno, 13, who was killed after a stray bullet struck him through the bedroom window of his Pasadena home in 2021.—
Gabriel San Román,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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Those joyful scenes in Prague were fuelled by the disappointment of the previous year, when West Ham lost to Eintracht Frankfurt in a fiery Europa League semi-final, a defeat that saw Moyes almost narrowly missing a ballboy when furiously volleying a stray ball at full time.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scattered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scattered. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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