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
Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 15 Apr. 2026
Shoshani said Israel warned civilians to evacuate before the strikes, but Hezbollah moved its operatives into new civilian locations.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2026
John Devore, Rolling Stone, 20 Mar. 2026
For international patients traveling to Turkey for rhinoplasty, clinics often structure treatment timelines around approximately a week in the country to allow for early post-operative checks and splint removal, although schedules can vary depending on the surgeon and the complexity of the case.
—Miami Herald, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for operative
Noun
Some operatives say the allegations were shocking in their scale, but didn’t come entirely out of left field—rumors about Swalwell’s behavior had quietly circulated in political circles for years.
—Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 15 Apr. 2026
Shoshani said Israel warned civilians to evacuate before the strikes, but Hezbollah moved its operatives into new civilian locations.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Then, trace your finger to its peak, which, to me, was his starring role as smoldering special forces operative Scott McCoy in the 1986 action movie The Delta Force, co-starring a frail-looking but grizzled and unsmiling Lee Marvin in his last movie.
—John Devore, Rolling Stone, 20 Mar. 2026
For international patients traveling to Turkey for rhinoplasty, clinics often structure treatment timelines around approximately a week in the country to allow for early post-operative checks and splint removal, although schedules can vary depending on the surgeon and the complexity of the case.
—Miami Herald, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for operative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for operative
Noun
-
Under the plan, FISA, which allows warrantless wiretapping of noncitizens, would be extended for three years, with new oversight guardrails and penalties for abusing the spy tool.—
Hailey Bullis,
The Washington Examiner,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Around the same time, the National Reconnaissance Office decided that two of its spy satellites were surplus to requirements and offered the hardware to NASA.—
JOHN TIMMER,
ArsTechnica,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Senior Deputy District Attorney Devan Portillo, of the DA Office’s special prosecutions unit, handled the case, with support from a Placer County Sheriff’s Office detective assigned to the county’s Opioid Response Team.—
Nicole Buss,
Sacbee.com,
21 Apr. 2026
-
After a lengthy investigation found there was no evidence to suggest that the crash was intentional, detectives determined that Gutierrez likely fell asleep at the wheel.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 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
-
So what makes the cell go, what breathes life into the atomic arrangements, is the efficient removal of protons so that more protons will flow.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
20 Apr. 2026
-
In 2023, AOMedia, whose members include Amazon, Apple, Google, Intel, Microsoft, Netflix, Nvidia, and Samsung, claimed that AV1 is 30 percent more efficient than HEVC.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The other soldier is accused of having contact with a foreign agent, transmitting information to the enemy and other offenses, according to the indictment.—
Sean Nevin,
NBC news,
24 Apr. 2026
-
In an early morning operation, FBI agents executed arrest warrants across Southern California in connection with federal indictments, according to the agency.—
Brittny Mejia,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Following the alleged confession, investigators in Medina County began searching the Medina Lake area.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
12 Apr. 2026
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With assurances of an immunity deal, David Wiley met with investigators at his attorney's office.—
Peter Van Sant,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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In response, both agencies have introduced major operational changes aimed at improving coordination and public safety.—
Madisen Keavy,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
-
The task of further enrichment requires operational centrifuges, but the current capacity of Iran’s nuclear program is unclear, some analysts said.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Fortunately, there are a number of effective methods for controlling them.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Laursen told the Sun Sentinel that computerized educational materials can be effective for older children.—
Scott Travis,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Operative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/operative. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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