What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
disperse
Example
The wind helped disperse the smoke from the fire. [disperse: verb]
Example
The protesters were dispersed by the police. [dispersed: past participle]
scatter
Example
She scattered the seeds in the garden. [scatter: verb]
Example
The flock of birds scattered in all directions. [scattered: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Scatter is more commonly used than disperse in everyday language. Scatter is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while disperse is less common and often used in technical or scientific contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between disperse and scatter?
While disperse is typically associated with a more formal or technical tone, scatter is more versatile and can be employed in both formal and informal contexts.
