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
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 operative
Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026
Some Republicans are also frustrated with the administration’s scattershot messaging, particularly around last year’s signature tax law, according to a GOP operative who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 7 May 2026
Zev Fima, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2026
These laws are only required today because Democrats have put in place operative policies that allow for people who are not legal voters to be voting.
—Special To The Sun-Sentinel, Sun Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for operative
Noun
Former Mossad operative Gad Shimron told Fox News Digital that while the espionage efforts have caused damage, their impact appears tactical rather than strategic.
—Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026
Some Republicans are also frustrated with the administration’s scattershot messaging, particularly around last year’s signature tax law, according to a GOP operative who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 7 May 2026
Adjective
But the operative word is delayed, not destroyed.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2026
These laws are only required today because Democrats have put in place operative policies that allow for people who are not legal voters to be voting.
—Special To The Sun-Sentinel, Sun Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for operative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for operative
Noun
-
Hong Kong — China’s top spy agency has come out of the shadows to warn that its young people are being duped by foreign forces into shirking hard work and prioritizing their individual emotions at the expense of national development.—
Sylvie Zhuang,
CNN Money,
7 May 2026
-
Lu’s lawyer, John Carman portrayed the case as a mundane bureaucratic blip, not an international spy thriller.—
Michael R. Sisak,
Fortune,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Court records show Dial sued a former Parker Police Department detective over his 2022 arrest for tampering with evidence and being an accessory to murder.—
Brian Maass,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
-
The lawsuit claims that Santana was the lead detective assigned to the case, while Smith was the sergeant who supervised the investigative team.—
Sarah Perkel,
USA Today,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
Exxon operates some of the wells directly and holds a financial, non-operating interest in the others.—
Rachel Nostrant,
Houston Chronicle,
26 Jan. 2026
-
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
Adjective
-
The debate came amid projections of declining gas tax revenue as more people adopt electric, hybrid and fuel-efficient cars.—
Claire Rush,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2026
-
File under efficient but uninspired.—
Jon O'Brien,
Vulture,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
The 32-year-old Minter was coming off August 2024 hip labrum and microfracture surgery when the Mets signed him to a free-agent contract ahead of the 2025 season.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
7 May 2026
-
Also, why did the other sub-agents not refuse?—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
His attorney had asked officers to check on him, investigators said.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
10 May 2026
-
That’s not true, Enders told lottery investigators, arguing the halves came from a single ticket.—
Jack Jankowski,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
It was shut down in 2021 due to operational issues.—
Carolyn Stein,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
Achieving near-100% online property tax payments, in partnership with our residents, is the single greatest operational efficiency gain yielding millions in more revenue annually.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
The pair picked apart the Fire defense with a series of effective rolls and slips.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
10 May 2026
-
The trial court imposed a total effective sentence of 20 years in prison, suspended after 15 years, and 15 years of probation, the Supreme Court ruling says.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Operative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/operative. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
