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
Jim Riccioli, jsonline.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Californians, of course, are casting their ballots already on Proposition 50, which will set aside the congressional maps drawn by the Citizens Redistricting Commission in favor of a gerrymandered map drawn up by Democratic political operatives for the advantage of the Democrats.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 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
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
Californians, of course, are casting their ballots already on Proposition 50, which will set aside the congressional maps drawn by the Citizens Redistricting Commission in favor of a gerrymandered map drawn up by Democratic political operatives for the advantage of the Democrats.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 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
-
That is, after all, a spy’s skill.—
Isaac Butler,
The Atlantic,
3 Nov. 2025
-
The spy series has already spent time near TCU and in downtown.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The ongoing investigation is being led by Detective Travis Dalton, with assistance from other Post 4 detectives and troopers, the Meade County Sheriff’s Office and the Meade County Coroner’s Office.—
Lillian Metzmeier,
Louisville Courier Journal,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Meanwhile, newlyweds Ivy and Potts adjust to married life, a new detective settles in at Scotland Yard, and Nash causes chaos, even from across the globe.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
3 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
-
Chief Deputy Greg Tabor said the smaller size of the pods allows for more efficient operation of the entire Detention Center space and help mitigate overcrowding.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Proponents of the shake method swear that shaking out your laundry will prevent tangling, make drying more efficient, and reduce wrinkles in the process.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Products from companies like Cogent Security, 7AI, Prophet, and Dropzone AI, for instance, automate some of the routine defensive tactics that companies perform, using agents to send out alerts and escalate incident reports.—
Alexei Oreskovic,
Fortune,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Sandra Vergara is the newest real estate agent on Selling Sunset season 9.—
Jillian Sederholm,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Dramatic body cam video shows a terrified boy was being held by the throat when his knife-wielding captor was killed by a deputy, the Florida investigators say.—
Mark Price,
Miami Herald,
3 Nov. 2025
-
But after further investigation, Smith said that detectives determined the pedestrian was hit by only one vehicle, and that driver remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Beyond legal costs, Powers Gardner detailed new security and operational burdens.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Humain has been using the AI system internally to run much of its HR, finance, legal, operational and IT departments.—
Tala Alrajjal,
CNN Money,
2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Diagonal passes to onrushing full-backs has proven to be another effective route around the high defensive line, as Inter targeted Denzel Dumfries with 14 long balls out to his flank across the two-legged Champions League semi-final tie with Barcelona last season.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Ford said after talking with Prime Minister Mark Carney he’s decided to pause the advertising campaign effective Monday so that trade talks can resume.—
Rob Gillies,
Fortune,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Operative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/operative. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share