SCATTERS Synonyms: 124 Similar and Opposite Words

scatters 1 of 2

noun

plural of scatter

as in handfuls

a small number played before only a scatter of spectators in that huge stadium

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

scatters

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of scatter

as in disperses

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

as in sprays

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

as in dissipates

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

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 scatters

Noun

Pea gravel shifts and scatters. — Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 30 Apr. 2026 In a cluttered room, that beam scatters in every direction. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026 As internal pressure builds, the casing ruptures and scatters fragments outward at high speed, causing widespread injury to those nearby. — Divya Dubey, Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Mar. 2026 Even a hit isn’t clean—some materials are highly reflective, meaning laser energy bounces off the drone and scatters, potentially causing blinding. — Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 13 Feb. 2026 The Problem of Bureaucracy in Scaling Enterprises Business expansion scatters work across codebases, project management tools, chat platforms, and docs. — Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 11 Dec. 2025 Their innovation, called retina E-paper, uses nanoparticles to control how light scatters, achieving lifelike color reproduction that can be tuned electrically. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025 Weed scatters and falls between the wood slats. — Matthew Shen Goodman, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025

Verb

When the sun hits Ferm Living’s perforated Dapple chairs at just the right angle, light supposedly scatters through the steel seat in an artistic way, letting a relaxed tranquility wash over your outdoor patio. — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 3 Aug. 2026 Humans also see such a bright blue because the clear water absorbs red wavelengths and scatters blue light back to our eyes. — Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 10 July 2026 Earth’s atmosphere scatters shorter blue wavelengths more efficiently, allowing warmer red and orange tones to dominate — the same effect that produces vivid sunsets. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026 The youth suddenly drops to the ground as the crowd scatters, the video shows. — Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 25 Apr. 2026 This happens because its light passes through more of Earth's atmosphere, which scatters away the shorter blue wavelengths and lets the longer red tones pass through, an effect known as Rayleigh scattering. — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 9 Apr. 2026 As the light journeys along the fiber, little by little, some scatters off the glass molecules themselves and is lost. — John Ballato, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026 But Orlandoans who, in years to come, will see and admire the graceful little tree that scatters yellow blooms in the Leu gardens, will know of one that did. — Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2026 Cosmos is a low-maintenance annual that grows quickly and scatters seed widely. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 9 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for scatters

Noun

Not only would the ’70s see a precipitous rise of in the number of Hollywood sequels, but any film that managed to cut through the zeitgeist gave birth to handfuls of quick, formulaic, often cheaply made, copycats.

— Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 14 Aug. 2026
For some greens, stir in two big handfuls of spinach with the tomato sauce and cook until wilted.

— ABC News, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of handfuls

Verb

Used in the group’s previous drone research, this landing gear disperses energy to reduce impact and overcomes multiple engineering challenges.

— Tim Hornyak, IEEE Spectrum, 18 Aug. 2026
As the Night Court’s Inner Circle disperses far and wide, desperate for any advantage against Koschei and his mighty allies, peace hangs by a fragile thread.

— Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of disperses

Verb

In a photo of West Pine Cliff Court, burned homes surround one still standing, as a firefighter sprays down the walls and roof facing the engulfed house next door.

— Amanda Jackson, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
In the confusion, Paula is able to subdue Sky by nailing his hand to the ground and then sprays Ashley in the face with the dry shampoo before fleeing the scene.

— Erin Qualey, Vulture, 10 June 2026

Definition of sprays

Verb

Then life returns to normal, the energy dissipates, and those hours in shul leave little mark on the year itself.

— Risa Polansky Shiman, Sun Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2026
The outside consultants explained that the most common reason for white, cloudy water is dissolved air, which is harmless and can be tested by filling a glass and waiting a couple of minutes to see if the cloudiness dissipates.

— Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of dissipates

Noun

The Kissingers were also among the most visible couples in New York City, their principal residence, attending museum openings, fashion shows by Bill Blass and Oscar de la Renta, and charity fundraisers.

— Robert D. Mcfadden, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2026
World-renowned for his work on marital stability and divorce prediction, John Gottman has conducted 50 years of breakthrough research with thousands of couples.

— Big Think, Big Think, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of couples

Verb

Kemery sprinkles the tiny seeds either in late fall or very early spring, when there’s still a chance of frost, since cold spells offer the best germination.

— SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 11 July 2026
Thomson sprinkles critique throughout his book like seasoning unevenly applied to a gamey piece of meat.

— Michael O’Donnell, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026

Definition of sprinkles

Verb

If consumers are inclined to believe a company behaved badly, the distinction between firing and non-renewal disappears.

— Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026
Below me a narrow path winds through muddy rice paddies like a snake and disappears into a horizon blanketed by dense fog.

— Marisol Delarosa, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of disappears

Verb

Prepare to be dazzled from Warsaw’s highest viewing terrace atop Varso Tower, which proudly dots the skyline, before eating your way through the innovative food halls that define the coolest neighborhoods.

— Kasia Dietz, Travel + Leisure, 13 May 2026
Japanese linens top the bed, and designer furniture dots the living space.

— Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 1 May 2026

Definition of dots

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scatterings

scatters

scattershot

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Style

“Scatters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scatters. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of scatters

noun

verb

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