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

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

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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

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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 Zach Hickerson has since said Brian Hickerson administered Narcan to Panettiere after the brothers found her unconscious. — Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 25 Aug. 2026 Debt management plans, which are created and administered by credit counseling agencies, aim to give you a roadmap toward getting debt-free. — Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 25 Aug. 2026 The Association of American Medical Colleges administers the MCAT. — Stephanie Armour, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 Bertino-Tarrant has to coordinate with the Illinois Department of Revenue to administer a qualifying test that is required for anyone interested in serving on the Board of Review. — Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 24 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
  • The publisher will also distribute the audiobook to 100,000 teachers affiliated with Book Clubs in collaboration with Audible and Pottermore.
    — K.J. Yossman, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Among the additional counts against Andrew are allegations of making or distributing indecent images of children and possessing extreme pornography.
    — Jonny Hallam, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 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
  • Inside its Equipment Innovation Center in Atlanta, a massive television screen displays real-time data showing what drinks dispensed by the Freestyle are trending, what time of day and where — from the region to the type of business.
    — Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Those sales were hit by federal legislation that requires pharmacies to dispense some high-cost Medicare drugs at capped prices, the retailer said.
    — Anne D'Innocenzio, Fortune, 20 Aug. 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 Mayor and City Council of Baltimore are seeking to pause an order requiring it to provide records in lawsuit with Inspector General while the city appeals.
    — Bridget Byrne, Baltimore Sun, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The explosions provide different interruptions, punctuating the moment as one of Keeley’s ideas plays out in real time.
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of provide
Verb
  • The agreement had been offered last year and accepted by the official who oversees the Pentagon's Guantanamo war court, only to be revoked last August by then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin amid criticism of the deal from Republican lawmakers.
    — Steve Gorman, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Malone joined OpenAI in 2025 to help oversee its data-center buildout, including work connected to the company’s Stargate infrastructure plans.
    — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of oversee

Phrases Containing administer

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administer
administered
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Cite this Entry

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

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