SCATTERING Synonyms: 137 Similar and Opposite Words

scattering 1 of 2

noun

ˈska-tə-riŋ

Definition of scattering

as in dispersion

an act or process in which something scatters or is scattered the scattering of the protesters suddenly turned violent and chaotic

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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in handful

a small number a scattering of people in the mostly empty theater

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

scattering

2 of 2

verb

present participle of scatter

as in dispersing

to cause (members of a group) to move widely apart the noise of the backfiring car scattered the pigeons

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in spraying

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 dissipating

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

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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 scattering

Noun

The unincorporated community, little more than a scattering of buildings at a bend in the road, lies midway between Mason and Llano in the Texas Hill Country. — Pam Leblanc, Southern Living, 20 July 2026 And even outside the direct beam, the scattering of its photons through the atmosphere would create a still-bright smudge of light pollution in the surrounding night sky. — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 16 July 2026

Verb

The risk is scattering your attention across every shiny idea and calling it strategy. — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026 The crimson color stems from that outgoing light being reddened by the overlying layers of gas, much as sunlight scattering through Earth’s atmosphere can tint a sunset red. — Lee Billings, Scientific American, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for scattering

Recent Examples of Synonyms for scattering

Noun

Stock pickers' market Lerner is not the only one noting the low correlation and high dispersion in the market.

— Sarah Min, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
Yet for some thinkers today the involuntary dispersion of the Jews (galut or golah) is articulated as being inherently different from the voluntary exile of the Jews (diaspora or tfutsot).

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 July 2026

Definition of dispersion

Noun

Twenty years ago, our entire business was powered by a handful of tower servers in a basement.

— Atul Sabharwal, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Musk’s companies are hardly the only ones facing key-person risks, of course, but only a handful of other companies come close to the scale of Tesla and SpaceX’s market value.

— Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of handful

Verb

The Retired Police Canine Foundation was selected as the recipient of these funds and is in charge of dispersing them to handlers across the state.

— Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026
Open clusters are young clusters of stars that were born together and are now gradually dispersing, and Auriga’s open clusters are some of the best and brightest of their kind in the night sky.

— Gemma Lavender, Space.com, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of dispersing

Verb

With time dissipating memories of Lahti’s final days, there are few living people left to put into context the rumors of the bar fight, and even a less likely chance that the assailant is still alive.

— Taylor Romine, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2026
Parton was the standard-bearer of a dissipating breed of superstar.

— Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of dissipating

Noun

The research also demonstrates the JWST is more than capable of studying the dispersal of gas and dust around individual infant stars.

— Robert Lea, Space.com, 27 Aug. 2026
In addition to simulating the dispersal of defense production, Taiwan is throttling the island’s mobile network to show civilians what happens when internet services are disabled.

— Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of dispersal

Noun

How happy couples avoid this fight Healthy couples absolutely still notice when things are lopsided.

— Mark Travers, CNBC, 30 Aug. 2026
Outdoor bars and tents are being set up for the crowds expected for the bull-riding event that evening, and couples of all ages hold hands and wander the brick streets.

— Christine Lennon, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of couple

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scattered

scattering

scatterings

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Scattering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scattering. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of scattering

noun

verb

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