OPERATIONAL Synonyms: 73 Similar and Opposite Words

operational

adjective

ˌä-pə-ˈrā-sh(ə-)nəl

Definition of operational

as in operating

being in effective operation a fully operational oil refinery

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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 operational That will not be the end game on operational Starship flights, however. — Mike Wall, Space.com, 24 Sep. 2026 To support its trajectory, Nuuly is preparing to open a massive new East Coast facility that will triple its operational square footage. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2026 The two sides' 30-minute summit covered strategic investment, shipbuilding and nuclear cooperation, as well as the transition of wartime operational control, or OPCON, to South Korea. — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2026 The winery, founded in 1858, has about $39 million in debt, court records show, and has seen years of operational and financial restructuring. — Lizzie Kane, Sacbee.com, 24 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for operational

Recent Examples of Synonyms for operational

Adjective

That sits on the books of the league’s 32 Equity investment arm, and 1/32 of any gains or losses in the entity flow through the Packers’ non-operating income.

— Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 24 July 2026
True, some if the upside surprise has come from non-operating gains on holdings in huge, private AI pioneers, but not all of it.

— Michael Santoli, CNBC, 2 June 2026

Definition of operating

Adjective

West had coronary artery disease and died due to a combination of the pre-existing illness and post-operative complications a day after having cosmetic surgery.

— Michael Saponara, Billboard, 23 Sep. 2026
Bernadette Peters will play Coco Van Beck, the aforementioned queen of San Francisco society who enlists private detective Julie (Estrada) and her operative Charles on the case.

— Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of operative

Adjective

Parenting a child comes with unique stressors, from small daily hassles like getting kids out the door on time for school to the bigger assignment of raising a functioning, happy and healthy human.

— Daniel M. Bagner, The Conversation, 7 Aug. 2026
Two years later, that land was a functioning commercial development with healthcare services, co-working space, community banking and retail tenants serving a neighborhood that had none of those things before.

— Srinivasulu Mupparaju, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

Definition of functioning

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operation

operational

operations

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“Operational.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/operational. Accessed 30 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of operational

adjective

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