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
• 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
• 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

For instance, many larger employers hire an insurance company to administer their health benefits but pay their workers’ claims. —Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 24 Jan. 2026

The project is administered by Local Media Foundation, tax ID #36-4427750, a Section 501(c)(3) charitable trust affiliated with Local Media Association. —Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 23 Jan. 2026

The transmission organization administers electricity to the state, along with parts of 13 others. —Chloe Bennett-Steele, StateImpact, 23 Jan. 2026

Each institution administers its own version of the program. —Dallas Morning News, 23 Jan. 2026

Phrases Containing administer

• administer (to)