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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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 procedural dispute centers on a requirement to distribute amendment text to circuit court clerks for public posting, which lawmakers retroactively repealed.
    — Gabrielle M. Etzel, The Washington Examiner, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The combination of large-scale pre-training, distributed post-training and feedback-driven learning after deployment forms the basis of GO-3 Preview.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of distribute
Verb
  • Some states, including Nebraska and Montana, have already started enforcing the mandate.
    — Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Access to privilege can purchase compliance—and terror can enforce it.
    — Jieun Baek, Foreign Affairs, 30 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
  • Reaching stratospheric financial targets requires launching incredible numbers of Starlink and Starmind satellites, all of which can be dispensed like Pez candy into space.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The nozzle is also very slim, which helps the liquidy formula dispense more precisely onto my fingers without running everywhere.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 28 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
  • An independent committee found that the Housing Bureau’s independent checking unit failed in its duties supervising the maintenance work.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026
  • But the judge initially permitted him to supervise prosecutions in his other roles — an arrangement the subsequent 9th Circuit ruling undermined.
    — Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 28 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

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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 2 Nov. 2026.

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