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
Jeremy Kohler, ProPublica, 24 Apr. 2025
The 12 episodes of Andor Season 1 spanned a year in the galaxy far, far away and saw Cassian go from being reluctantly drawn into the rebellion in order to save his own skin to becoming a devoted resistance operative.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 22 Apr. 2025
Krystal Nurse, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2025
Wearing sunglasses and a heavy leather trenchcoat, Fishburne showed off his action movie chops as the enigmatic operative Morpheus in the original film and the first two sequels.
—Greg Braxton, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for operative
Noun
At the heart of the dispute — and the lead defendant in the case — was Ed Martin, a lawyer by training and a political operative by trade.
—Jeremy Kohler, ProPublica, 24 Apr. 2025
The 12 episodes of Andor Season 1 spanned a year in the galaxy far, far away and saw Cassian go from being reluctantly drawn into the rebellion in order to save his own skin to becoming a devoted resistance operative.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
Beyond the part itself, the bureau recommends that people ensure their car alarms are operative and to park in safe locations.
—Krystal Nurse, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2025
Wearing sunglasses and a heavy leather trenchcoat, Fishburne showed off his action movie chops as the enigmatic operative Morpheus in the original film and the first two sequels.
—Greg Braxton, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for operative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for operative
Noun
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Trump also singled out Aston Martin cars, the ride James Bond uses in the iconic spy movies, while speaking to reporters Wednesday.—
Rachel Barber,
USA Today,
9 May 2025
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But for at least the next few years, America’s spy agencies will have their hands full with the rogue government at home.—
James Santel,
The Atlantic,
8 May 2025
Noun
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Last fans saw, she was picked up by two New York Police Department officers who escorted her off a bus and told her detectives at the police station had questions for her about Famous' death.—
Julia Moore,
People.com,
9 May 2025
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On the day of the killing, police said that Hawkins was cooperating with detectives’ investigation.—
Emerson Clarridge,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 May 2025
Adjective
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Under Proposition 309, voters casting mail-in ballots could provide a driver's license or non-operating identification license number, the last four digits of a social security number, or a unique identifying number provided by the secretary of state for voter registration purposes.—
Arlyssa D. Becenti,
The Arizona Republic,
27 Oct. 2022
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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
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Airlines, including United, are working with the FAA to address the issues and ensure safe and efficient air travel.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
13 May 2025
-
Regular interaction expands potential deal flow and positions you as a credible and efficient buyer, capable of quickly responding when attractive opportunities arise.—
Paul Davis,
Forbes.com,
12 May 2025
Noun
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This solution integrates contact centers with operational systems, enabling both self-service and live agent support across channels like voice, chat, and SMS.—
Gene Marks,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
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The team also included A.R.G.U.S. agent John Economos (Steve Agee) of the Belle Reve Penitentiary, National Security Agency agent and former Waller aide Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland), and new team member Leota Adebayo (Danielle Brooks).—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
11 May 2025
Noun
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Similarly, in October 2023, Orange County investigators used the technology to identity Michael Ray Schlicht of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, whose body had been found in 1974 near in unincorporated Laguna Hills, now the city of Aliso Viejo, California.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
13 May 2025
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When investigators found the listeria on the Fresh & Ready equipment this year, scientists at the FDA used whole genome sequencing analysis, which confirmed that the strain of listeria found at Fresh & Ready Foods matched the strain of listeria causing illnesses in the 2024 outbreak.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2025
Adjective
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Yet the barriers are still in a test phase and not officially operational.—
Julia Buckley,
CNN Money,
4 May 2025
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By integrating generative AI, Klarna aims to reduce operational costs while scaling its services, with reports suggesting that AI now handles a significant portion of its customer interactions.—
Jack Kelly,
Forbes.com,
4 May 2025
Adjective
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Brown accounted for four of those free-throw attempts, and the rest came from Boston’s effective bench, with Pritchard, Kornet and Kristaps Porzingis making all eight of their first-half freebies.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
10 May 2025
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About 50% of Connecticut’s Medicaid expenses in most program areas are covered through federal reimbursement, which would make the effective annual cost to the state about $137.5 million.—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
10 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Operative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/operative. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
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