Synonyms of administer

administer 1 of 2

verb (1)

əd-ˈmi-nə-stər 

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

• distribute
• dispense
• provide
• allocate
• divide
• assign
• supply
• apportion
• portion
• furnish
• donate
• deal (out)
• prorate
• parcel (out)
• dole out
• hand out
• contribute
• share
• disburse
• allot
• mete (out)
• redistribute
• disseminate
• appropriate
• split
• measure (out)
• circulate
• allow
• spread
• bestow
• proportion
• ration
• share (out)
• lot
• issue
• disperse
• set
• part
• pledge
• dish out
• scatter
• reapportion
• admeasure
• reallocate
• divvy (up)
• chip in
• dollop (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• refuse
• deny
• withhold
• reject
• disallow
• deprive (of)
• decline
• begrudge
• misallocate
• stint
• pinch
• skimp
• niggle (out)

2

as in to enforce

to carry out effectively

local officials should see that the fair housing laws are rigorously administered

Synonyms & Similar Words

• enforce
• implement
• execute
• apply
• enact
• fulfill
• render
• invoke
• effectuate
• effect
• fulfil
• bring about
• prosecute
• cite
• honor
• legislate
• observe
• promulgate
• uphold
• discharge

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ignore
• disregard
• neglect

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

• manage
• supervise
• oversee
• operate
• regulate
• handle
• conduct
• control
• govern
• run
• administrate
• keep
• direct
• tend
• guide
• protect
• carry on
• superintend
• preside (over)
• steward
• overlook
• watch over
• steer
• lead
• watch
• safeguard
• pilot
• care (for)
• guard
• mind
• micromanage
• stage-manage
• codirect
• comanage

administer (to)

2 of 2

verb (2)

as in to minister (to)

to attend to the needs and comforts of

volunteers administering to the terminally ill at a hospice

Synonyms & Similar Words

• minister (to)
• nurse
• mother
• see to
• treat
• wait upon
• care (for)
• heal
• look after
• look out for
• take care of
• wait on
• do for
• look to
• support
• provide (for)
• cater (to)
• aid
• remedy
• preserve
• cure
• baby
• conserve
• spoil
• doctor
• pamper
• indulge
• mollycoddle
• humor
• coddle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• forget
• ignore
• slight
• neglect
• brush (aside or off)
• overlook

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of administer

Verb

The project is administered by Local Media Foundation, tax ID #36‐4427750, a Section 501(c)(3) charitable trust affiliated with Local Media Association. —April Quevedo, jsonline.com, 23 Aug. 2025

Unfortunately, amid negotiations about refugees and medical aid from France, Dalton learns her husband, Dr. Alex Anderson (Ashley Thomas), and his team have been taken hostage in French Guiana while administering aid to locals in need. —Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 21 Aug. 2025

Among that past ministry work was that of City of Refuge, a program administered by FBC Woodstock for pastors who vacated their pulpits due to burn out or disciplinary reasons. —Liam Adams, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025

Next to the theatre glowed the local motel, its front office administered by a Pakistani boy with one wild eye and a woman, who turned out to be his aunt, bustling around his wheelchair. —Anne Carson, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2025

Phrases Containing administer

• administer (to)