What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
scatter
Example
The wind scattered the leaves all over the yard. [scatter: verb]
Example
The police had to scatter the crowd to maintain order. [scatter: verb]
Example
The scientist used a microscope to scatter the light into its various colors. [scatter: verb]
strew
Example
The flowers were strewn across the meadow. [strew: verb]
Example
The papers were strewn all over the desk. [strew: verb]
Example
She strewed salt on the icy sidewalk to prevent slipping. [strew: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Scatter is more commonly used than strew in everyday language, and it covers a wider range of contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between scatter and strew?
Both scatter and strew are relatively informal words, but scatter can be used in more formal contexts as well.
