scattered
Thrown in disarray
Scattered describes things spread over an area without pattern or concentration.
Scattered showers occur here and there, not everywhere.
Scattered papers lie disorganized across a surface.
A scattered population lives dispersed rather than clustered.
Someone who is scattered lacks focus or seems disorganized: I've been so scattered lately I keep forgetting appointments.
Distant or controller
- far-flungScattered over vast areas
- outlyingDistant from center
- separateTo set apart
- detachedApart or uninvolved
solitary · sparse · dispersed · distant · spread out · wide apart · removed · secluded
Spread irregularly about
- sprinkledDispersed in droplets
- spreadTo distribute widely
- dottedMarked with small points
- pepperedScattered thickly upon
interspersed · littered · spattered · flung · tossed · broadcast · sown · disseminated
Lacking systematic arrangement
- jumbledDisordered, lacking arrangement
- clutteredCrowded with disorder
- messyLacking order or neatness
- disheveledUntidy in appearance
disordered · disarrayed · muddled · untidy · haphazard · helter-skelter · topsy-turvy · higgledy-piggledy
Occurring at irregular intervals
- infrequentHappening only occasionally
- occasionalHappening at intervals
- irregularDeviating from normal patterns
- patchyIrregular in coverage
uneven · discontinuous · fitful · spasmodic · sparse · few and far between · isolated · random
Without clear direction
- absent-mindedProne to forgetting things
- distractedUnable to concentrate
- scatterbrainedLacking mental focus
- forgetfulFailing to retain information
inattentive · disoriented · confused · dazed · flustered · rattled · discombobulated · muddled
remote
Distant or controller
detached · solitary · sparse · dispersed · distant · spread out · wide apart · removed · secluded · peripheral
strewn
Spread irregularly about
peppered · interspersed · littered · spattered · flung · tossed · broadcast · sown · disseminated · distributed
disorganized
Lacking systematic arrangement
disheveled · disordered · disarrayed · muddled · untidy · haphazard · helter-skelter · topsy-turvy · higgledy-piggledy · in disarray
intermittent
Occurring at irregular intervals
- infrequentHappening only occasionally
- occasionalHappening at intervals
- irregularDeviating from normal patterns
patchy · uneven · discontinuous · fitful · spasmodic · sparse · few and far between · isolated · random · here and there
unfocused
Without clear direction
- absent-mindedProne to forgetting things
- distractedUnable to concentrate
- scatterbrainedLacking mental focus
forgetful · inattentive · disoriented · confused · dazed · flustered · rattled · discombobulated · muddled · preoccupied
- broken apartapart, asunder, broken, broken up, fragmented
- disorderchaos, chaotic, disarray, mess, disordered
- disorderedchaotic, disorganized, disordered, jumbled, messy
- Inconsistencywishy-washy, flip-flop, fickle, unreliable, unpredictable
- pattern traitsregularity, symmetry, repetition, uniformity, variation
- leaf arrangementalternate, opposite, whorled, spiral, decussate
scatteredgathered
Brought into one place
clustered · concentrated · collected · assembled · grouped
- scattered showersIsolated light rainfalls
- scattered thoughtsUnfocused, disorganized mental activity
- scattered to the winds
- scattered remains
- scattered cloudsIntermittent sky coverage
- scattering ashesDistributing cremated remains outdoors
scatter, scattering, scatterbrain, scatters, scattershot, scatterplot, scattergram