administer

verb

əd-ˈmi-nə-stər How to pronounce administer (audio)
Definition of administernext
1
as in to distribute
to give out (something) to appropriate individuals the principal administers discipline fairly when students break the rules

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to enforce
to carry out effectively local officials should see that the fair housing laws are rigorously administered

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to manage
to look after and make decisions about the lieutenant governor administers the affairs of the state in the absence of the governor

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 administer The clinic is for pets only, and one-year rabies vaccines will be administered. — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 29 Aug. 2026 The Iranians have now discovered the power of their geography and seem unwilling to give up on controlling/administering the Strait of Hormuz. — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026 Instead, the Constitution gives states the power to administer elections, the challengers said. — Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026 The park is administered by Gloucester County’s Department of Parks and Recreation. — Jennifer Janofsky, The Conversation, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for administer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for administer
  1. distribute
  2. enforce
  3. manage
  4. dispense
  5. implement
  6. supervise
  7. provide
  8. oversee
Verb
  • Artists using the library to record, produce and distribute songs is not unheard of.
    — Caden Perry, jsonline.com, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Earlier this year, an open letter from agency leadership warned against using federal funds to buy harm reduction supplies like sterile syringes and pipes, or to distribute test strips for common drug supply contaminants.
    — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of distribute
Verb
  • In many northern states, the laws being applied in Islamic courts are enforced by Hisbah.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The administration is appealing a June ruling by a lower court that the ban probably violated the troops’ constitutional rights and cannot be enforced against those currently serving while the litigation continues.
    — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of enforce
Verb
  • With much of the country's economy geared toward its lucrative and well-managed fishing industry, fishing rights have been a talking point in the run-up to the referendum.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Rebecca Sanders, a national safety practice leader at the transportation consulting firm Fehr & Peers, led a 2019 report at Arizona State University and Toole Design looking at various strategies used across the country to manage speed.
    — Jeff McMurray, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of manage
Verb
  • Staff are tuned-in and attentive, knowledgeable and efficient, without dispensing any of the sirs and ma’ams and stilted affections of fancier places.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Epstein was involved in figuring out ways to dispense a significant portion of that money.
    — Ben Smith, semafor.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of dispense
Verb
  • Chelsea fans will be well aware of this, having seen Mauricio Pochettino and Enzo Maresca get the most out of Palmer by implementing a more direct style.
    — Jon Mackenzie, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The article criticizes the lack of comparative studies showing firms implementing these remedies outperform similar ones that don't.
    — Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of implement
Verb
  • While not directly involved in controlling the system, humans give Spike rules of engagement all the while, supervising the entire system during operation.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Weerasethakul supervised the 4K restorations, which include remastered and remixed audio and new key art for each film.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of supervise
Verb
  • The bike also has a programmable control system that can provide functions such as boost, wheel-lift assistance, speed limiting and what Bonnell calls E-Clutch functionality (more on that later).
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Along with performances from Chappell Roan, Doechii and more, the festival provided a space where attendees could connect directly with the festival’s nonprofit partners and hear more about the issues and communities at the center of their work.
    — Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of provide
Verb
  • The actors first appeared together in 2001 movie Ocean’s 11, in which Clooney’s Danny oversees a group of thieves during an ambitious heist.
    — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Fischer brings experience overseeing finance at a large public company accustomed to making long-term infrastructure investments.
    — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of oversee

Phrases Containing administer

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admeasuring
administer
administered
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Cite this Entry

“Administer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/administer. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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