SCATTERBRAINED Synonyms: 56 Similar and Opposite Words

scatterbrained

adjective

ˈska-tər-ˌbrānd

Definition of scatterbrained

as in goofy

lacking in seriousness or maturity a scatterbrained child who couldn't seem to pay attention or stop fooling around

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of scatterbrained Susan Blanchard co-starred as Tina Kelly, his scatterbrained housekeeper. — Marc Berman, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025 The novel begins on a Monday afternoon like any other at its three adolescent central characters’ loving but scatterbrained aunt Xía’s house in Miami. — Juan Vidal, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025 Meanwhile, Hudson turns up her ditz-o-meter to 11, twirling and screaming her way through a performance that should remind Hollywood of her singular scatterbrained talents. — Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 22 Nov. 2022 Trying to stay organized can be a real pain, especially for those of us who may be a bit scatterbrained. — Chris Hachey, BGR, 22 June 2021 President Biden had another dismal week thanks to the accelerating border crisis, the beginnings of his assault on the Second Amendment, Vice President Kamala Harris’s behavior and his scatterbrained performance at a Thursday news conference. — Paul Bedard, Washington Examiner, 27 Mar. 2021 Sadat cast Afghan nonactors to paint a scatterbrained picture of parentless adolescence, and outstanding production design immerses us in this historical remembrance. — Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2021 Donald Moffat is superb as a president who masks his ferocity with scatterbrained folksiness. — Duane Byrge, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Aug. 2020

Recent Examples of Synonyms for scatterbrained

Adjective

So when Billie and Issa get an actual offer for drinks with two firefighters who come to the house, Billie puts on a goofy British accent à la Issa and turns them down, choosing a quiet night at home with her friend instead.

— Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
That was therapeutic for these professional dancers who got to be silly and goofy, but confidently.

— Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of goofy

Adjective

Central Market, released in 2009, proved that his idiosyncratic melodic sensibility could translate to a more symphonic setting, with the Wordless Music Orchestra giving his giddy, loop-heavy compositions a bustling, bristling density.

— Reed Jackson, SPIN, 24 Aug. 2026
All this scattershot world-building and world-visiting allows for some colorfully diverting vignettes, in which production designer Alexandra Walker and costume designer Ann Maskrey get to show off their giddy, gaudy wares.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of giddy

Adjective

In sick bay, M’Benga tries to remove the table and end his life so Chapel can give up on him, an effort that proves futile.

— Keith Phipps, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026
Its storyline spins the futile, determined chase of Wile to one day capture Roadrunner as something admirable, and applies that underdog mentality to the average person trying to navigate a late capitalist landscape that values profits over people.

— Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of futile

Browse Nearby Words

scatterbrain

scatterbrained

scatterbrains

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Scatterbrained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scatterbrained. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of scatterbrained

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

conscientious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes