1
as in spy
a person who tries secretly to obtain information for one country in the territory of another usually unfriendly country
CIA operatives take terrible risks to find out the secrets of foreign countries
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in detective
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons
set in the 1930s, the novel is about a washed-out operative working for a third-rate detective agency
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in operating
being in effective operation
the last operative bookbinder of its kind in the business
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in efficient
producing or capable of producing a desired result
unfortunately, the operative amount of the medication and the lethal amount were too close for it to be used safely
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of operative
Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
Whether that means New Berlin will reach out to business operatives to fill the space to be vacated by Wausau Equipment isn't certain.
—Jim Riccioli, jsonline.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Maria Williams, USA Today, 6 Oct. 2025
The fleet departed from Barcelona, with activists supported by groups in Spain, which Jerusalem claims is tied to Hamas operative Saif Abu Kashk, who allegedly runs a front company that Israeli intelligence claims controls many of the ships.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for operative
Noun
Fujimoto's violent world is set in an alternate timeline 1990s where Devils born of humanity's collective fears roam, and operatives known as Devil Hunters often form contracts with them to acquire their characteristics and powers.
—Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
Whether that means New Berlin will reach out to business operatives to fill the space to be vacated by Wausau Equipment isn't certain.
—Jim Riccioli, jsonline.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Usually, this does not include lodging, transportation, or post-operative assistance.
—Maria Williams, USA Today, 6 Oct. 2025
The fleet departed from Barcelona, with activists supported by groups in Spain, which Jerusalem claims is tied to Hamas operative Saif Abu Kashk, who allegedly runs a front company that Israeli intelligence claims controls many of the ships.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for operative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for operative
Noun
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Netanyahu said the country would continue trying to bring home the bodies of Israelis still being held across enemy lines, such as Eli Cohen, an Israeli spy hung in Damascus in 1965.—
NPR,
NPR,
9 Nov. 2025
-
And lately, Prime’s recommendations algorithm seems to have taken a shine to it — perhaps mistaking it for a sharp spy game as its human predecessors did, or perhaps not.—
Claire McNear,
Rolling Stone,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Homicide detectives deemed the death suspicious and began investigating.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
11 Nov. 2025
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The show is also adding Ashley Walters, who earned an Emmy nomination for his incredible turn playing the lead detective in Netflix’s Adolescence.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Last year, though revenue and operating profit increased, non-operating red ink pushed the company into a full-year loss of NT$766 million, or $25 million.—
Russell Flannery,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
-
The adjusted net income decreased by 8% y-o-y to $3.9 billion in the first nine months of 2022 due to higher expenses as a % of revenues and lower non-operating income.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes,
11 Jan. 2023
Adjective
-
As global demand for cleaner and more efficient energy sources intensifies, solar power remains one of the most promising solutions.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Nov. 2025
-
The threat of more efficient, devaluing production models to the livelihoods of artisans is historically clear.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The woman, Marimar Martinez, is accused of closely pursuing the agent and ramming into his car.—
Omar Jimenez,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The team settled for adding TE Josh Whyle and defensive lineman Arron Mosby from the practice squad to the active roster, but Green Bay is apparently in on one prominent free-agent defensive back as well.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Instead, the Kennedy focuses on the stark reality of a man fighting to protect himself and his family from Santa Fe prosecutors and investigators, who in the doc, seem driven less by the facts than by their interest in putting Baldwin on trial for his polarizing public persona.—
Addie Morfoot,
Variety,
10 Nov. 2025
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This allowed investigators to collect DNA, which led them to the teen, Scott said.—
Cameron Knight,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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But food hubs also have high startup and operational costs, challenges with maintaining a consistent supply and demand and recruiting skilled leadership and staff, and navigating organizational, regulatory and food safety requirements, Perez said.—
Cristina LaRue,
Arkansas Online,
9 Nov. 2025
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New operational concept for mine countermeasures The vessel is equipped with a TSAM towed sonar and on board the SAMDIS multi-view sonar.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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What’s more, what makes Allen such a reliable and effective target is his ability to come through with a catch on the most important downs.—
Elliott Teaford,
Oc Register,
8 Nov. 2025
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The Magic shot 31 free throws in the game to Boston’s 16, with Brown — highly effective at drawing contact on drives and pull-ups this season — getting to the line just twice.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Operative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/operative. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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