1
as in mission
a specific task with which a person or group is charged
a secret operation which, if it is discovered, the government will deny any knowledge of
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in process
a usually fixed or ordered series of actions or events leading to a result
a specific mathematical operation is required in order to get the correct answer
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in management
the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something
given the constant threat of robbery, the operation of a convenience store can be quite stressful
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in use
the act or practice of employing something for a particular purpose
a considerable amount of training is required for the operation of these new high-tech weapons systems
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 operation
Failure, insolvency or disruption can freeze capital and disrupt operations.
—
Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
It’s been rigged with state-of-the-art technologies to streamline daily operations, boost productivity efficiency, and overall workflow, ultimately enabling Burlington to get merchandise to its stores faster.
—David Moin, Footwear News, 18 June 2026
The rusted structure was barely hanging on, and its operation was time-consuming for the busy ranchers, who had to lug special tools on all-terrain vehicles and on foot to open or close the mechanism.
—Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 18 June 2026
Transcription Factors Transcription gets started by proteins called transcription factors, which are like the operations managers of gene regulation.
—Philip Ball, Quanta Magazine, 18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for operation
Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
It’s been rigged with state-of-the-art technologies to streamline daily operations, boost productivity efficiency, and overall workflow, ultimately enabling Burlington to get merchandise to its stores faster.
—David Moin, Footwear News, 18 June 2026
The rusted structure was barely hanging on, and its operation was time-consuming for the busy ranchers, who had to lug special tools on all-terrain vehicles and on foot to open or close the mechanism.
—Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 18 June 2026
Transcription Factors Transcription gets started by proteins called transcription factors, which are like the operations managers of gene regulation.
—Philip Ball, Quanta Magazine, 18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for operation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for operation
Noun
-
None of these are the type of meaty science mission that Mars researchers have become accustomed to.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
22 June 2026
-
Based on previous statements from officials, the Victus Haze mission will unfold with additional maneuvers to bring Rocket Lab’s Puma satellite closer to True Anomaly’s Jackal.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
22 June 2026
Noun
-
New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin previously said multiple bills related to carriage horses were expected to move through the legislative process.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
-
The Lexington County Coroner’s Office said an autopsy will be scheduled in the coming days and that the process is expected to take some time.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
Gautam Mukunda writes about corporate management and innovation.—
Gautam Mukunda,
Mercury News,
20 June 2026
-
Union leadership said this week that the league was not formally asked by management to meet and confer over various charter proposals dealing with the LAPD, including the one focused on policy.—
Los Angeles City Hall,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2026
Noun
-
The creation of this content included the use of AI based on templates created, reviewed and edited by journalists in the newsroom.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
21 June 2026
-
Under them, a chatbot must not be able to interact with someone under 18 unless it is programmed against encouraging self-destructive behavior and provides parents with tools to manage the child’s use.—
Marc Levy,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
Noun
-
That means taking away human driver jobs could be particularly detrimental in the state.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
-
Young men with at least a bachelor’s degree spent an average of 14 hours less annually on the job between 2019 and 2022.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
21 June 2026
Noun
-
When Díaz underwent the procedure to remove loose bodies from his elbow in late April, the Dodgers eyed a post-All-Star break return.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2026
-
The rules require buildings to have a clear plan for managing equipment failures, including specific procedures to assist residents who may be trapped.—
Joan Murray,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
Local leaders are pointing to FIFA’s handling of entry into Arrowhead Stadium as the cause of bumper-to-bumper traffic and long lines to get into the city’s World Cup debut on Tuesday.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
17 June 2026
-
And Biden’s handling of the war in Gaza has hurt his legacy even in the Democratic mainstream.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
In Kansas, for example, recipients must fill out a 30-page application with 200 questions to get benefits of about $150 per month, according to Appleseed Center's Kottler.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
-
An Art Basel spokesperson told the Art Newspaper that the decision to cancel the award had been made in 2025, with the selection committed subsequently notified and application materials updated.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Operation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/operation. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
