What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Scatter vs Splinter - What's the difference?

scatter | splinter |

In lang=en terms the difference between scatter and splinter

is that scatter is to occur or fall at widely spaced intervals while splinter is to fasten or confine with splinters, or splints, as a broken limb.

As verbs the difference between scatter and splinter

is that scatter is (ergative) to (cause to) separate and go in different directions; to disperse while splinter is to come apart into long sharp fragments.

As a noun splinter is

a long, sharp fragment of material, often wood.

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

    splinter

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A long, sharp fragment of material, often wood.
  • A group that formed by splitting off from a larger membership.
  • Synonyms

    * (long sharp fragment) shard, spelk. * (group formed by splitting) faction, splinter group.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To come apart into long sharp fragments.
  • The tall tree splintered during the storm.
  • To cause to break apart into long sharp fragments.
  • His third kick splintered the door.
  • * Prescott
  • After splintering their lances, they wheeled about, and abandoned the field to the enemy.
  • (figuratively, of a group) To break, or cause to break, into factions.
  • The government splintered when the coalition members could not agree.
    The unpopular new policies splintered the company.
  • To fasten or confine with splinters, or splints, as a broken limb.
  • (Bishop Wren)