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 But Lanitis began experiencing severe pain in her upper abdomen within a few hours of being administered the acid. — D. T. Max, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026 If a provider offers Letybo as a skin booster or for body contouring, confirm it is being administered off-label by someone with specific training in that technique. — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 26 Oct. 2026 Across the state, more than 39,000 measles vaccines were administered during the first three weeks of October – higher than an average of 25,000 vaccines administered across the state in one month, the health department said. — Chandelis Duster, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026 Ultimately, the state’s Franchise Tax Board, responsible for administering the tax, will have to assess residency. — Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 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 Break Will Not Be Even Once the trigger fires, the productivity break will not distribute evenly across the world.
    — Stephen Messer, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The foundation has raised more than $30,000 to be awarded in scholarships and $26,000 to be distributed to community causes.
    — Samantha Bergeson, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of distribute
Verb
  • Different views on the topic The Justice Department says its actions are intended to enforce federal voting laws and protect citizens’ ballots from dilution.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Environmentalists have expressed concerns, however, that the law won’t be enforced against Pérez under the country’s conservative National Party, of which Zambrano is a member.
    — Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of enforce
Verb
  • Union Berlin managed to draw at Augsburg 1-1 after a player from each was sent off in separate incidents.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The winner will gain one of five seats on the board that runs the highway district, which is responsible for building, managing and maintaining local roads and bridges countywide — as well as setting ACHD’s nearly $260 million annual budget.
    — Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of manage
Verb
  • Crystal is the rare talent who always has been able to dispense the warmth of laughter and then immediately unplug the flow of treacle.
    — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Items such as the coffee pots, dispensing nozzles for cappuccino and frazil machines must be washed and sanitized as needed.
    — NWA Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of dispense
Verb
  • West Point implemented a rule in early 2025 that sought to bar civilian and military professors from publishing papers, speaking at conferences or appearing on podcasts without seeking approval from superiors.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Negotiations with those governors will be another challenge for Lula, who will need cooperation at the state level to implement his policies.
    — Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of implement
Verb
  • Children under 12 must be accompanied by a supervising companion who is at least 14 years old.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The California Department of State Hospitals contracts with Liberty Healthcare to supervise people convicted of specific crimes and who also struggle with significant mental health conditions.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of supervise
Verb
  • Amphibious skis help the motorcycle remain above the water’s surface, while the front ski provides directional control during the crossing.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 26 Oct. 2026
  • For now, the trial provides compelling evidence that a cancer’s individuality can become a therapeutic opportunity.
    — Mike McRae October 25, New Atlas, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of provide
Verb
  • Sanders, the Vermont socialist and two-time presidential candidate, is likely to chair the Senate panel responsible for overseeing labor, education, and healthcare next year if Democrats reclaim the chamber.
    — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 28 Oct. 2026
  • But the Chicago Board of Education oversees a $10 billion budget, larger than many big cities, along with aging buildings, ballooning debt and shrinking enrollment.
    — Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of oversee

Phrases Containing administer

Browse Nearby Words

admeasuring
administer
administered
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Administer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/administer. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of reticent

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

The Words of the Week - Oct. 30

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All