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Distraught vs Scatter - What's the difference?

distraught | scatter |

As an adjective distraught

is deeply hurt, saddened, or worried; distressed.

As a verb scatter is

(ergative) to (cause to) separate and go in different directions; to disperse.

distraught

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Deeply hurt, saddened, or worried; distressed.
    • His distraught widow cried for days, feeling very alone.

    Derived terms

    * distraughtly * distraughtness

    Synonyms

    * distressed * pained

    scatter

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (ergative) To (cause to) separate and go in different directions; to disperse.
    • the police scattered the crowds
    the crowd scattered
  • * Shakespeare
    • Scatter and disperse the giddy Goths.
  • To distribute loosely as by sprinkling.
    • Her ashes were scattered at the top of a waterfall.
  • * Dryden
    • Why should my muse enlarge on Libyan swains, / Their scattered cottages, and ample plains?
  • (physics) To deflect (radiation or particles).
  • To occur or fall at widely spaced intervals.
  • To frustrate, disappoint, and overthrow.
    • to scatter hopes or plans

    Derived terms

    * scatterbrain * scatterplot * scattershot