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

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, 7 Nov. 2025

The health agency has targeted homeless populations for education — including how to administer Narcan, a nasal spray that can rapidly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, said its director, Veronica Kelley. —Nathaniel Percy, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2025

Then the speaker administers the oath to the rest of the members all together as a mark of a new Congress. —Jennifer Selin, The Conversation, 7 Nov. 2025

The administration has overseen job cuts at the VA which has sparked concerns about the department's ability to administer healthcare. —Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2025

Phrases Containing administer

• administer (to)