scattered

Found in different places without any clear order, rather than all together.

• The toys were scattered on the floor.
• We passed scattered houses along the road.
• Scattered papers covered his desk.

How to use it: scattered across something (Small villages are scattered across the valley.); scattered around something (Her clothes were scattered around the room.)

Similar words: spread out, dispersed

Opposites: gathered, clustered

Common phrases: scattered toys, scattered villages, scattered around something, scattered across something

Weather happening in some parts of an area, rather than everywhere.

• Scattered showers are expected today.
• The forecast mentioned scattered thunderstorms this evening.
• We drove through scattered snow showers in the mountains.

Similar words: localized, patchy

Opposites: widespread

Common phrases: scattered showers, scattered thunderstorms, scattered snow showers

Occurring in separate, unconnected bits rather than forming a whole.

• There was only scattered applause.
• Scattered cheers came from the back of the hall.
• Her scattered memories did not form a complete story.

Similar words: fragmented, disconnected, sporadic

Opposites: unified, continuous

Common phrases: scattered applause, scattered cheers, scattered memories, scattered fragments