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
ABC News,
16 June 2026
Reporting showed political operatives with ties to FPL helped orchestrate the scheme.
—
Nate Monroe,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 June 2026
Wyles Daniel,
USA Today,
20 May 2026
This debate would be a story ripe for Washington/New York/San Francisco media, and an incredible boondoggle for the political operative classes to tap the biggest and most desperate budgets in the history of the world.
—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for operative
Noun
That same year, a Russian helicopter pilot who defected was killed in Spain, with Russian operatives as the prime suspects.
—
ABC News,
16 June 2026
Reporting showed political operatives with ties to FPL helped orchestrate the scheme.
—
Nate Monroe,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 June 2026
Adjective
Post-operative care is provided with a special kit containing shampoos, lotions, and medical products, and the clinic maintains high hygiene standards by sanitizing procedure rooms through ultraviolet technology.
—
Wyles Daniel,
USA Today,
20 May 2026
This debate would be a story ripe for Washington/New York/San Francisco media, and an incredible boondoggle for the political operative classes to tap the biggest and most desperate budgets in the history of the world.
—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for operative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for operative
Noun
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For now, a bipartisan housing bill and the renewal of a key spy program have become casualties of those standoffs, and their fate was in limbo as Senate Republicans left for the July 4 recess.
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Oscar-winning actor Gary Oldman, known to fans of AppleTV series Slow Horses as the shambolic, gassy spy Jackson Lamb, will be honored at this year Edinburgh Television Festival with the fest’s lifetime achievement honor, the Golden Icon Award.
Noun
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Police said there were no signs of trauma or foul play and homicide detectives are investigating.
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On June 12, detectives secured an arrest warrant for Pollock on charges of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder, police said.
Adjective
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True, some if the upside surprise has come from non-operating gains on holdings in huge, private AI pioneers, but not all of it.
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Exxon operates some of the wells directly and holds a financial, non-operating interest in the others.
Adjective
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But radically different approaches to AI hardware are being pursued today that may prove to be orders of magnitude more power-efficient.
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Swimming is metabolically the least expensive (near-neutral buoyancy needs no energy to support bodies), flying costs more, and running is the least efficient mode of animal and human locomotion.
Noun
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But the fear of being snatched by ICE agents remains, Neel said.
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In all 11 host cities, federal agents are leading operations to keep drones away from match-day crowds.
Noun
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The bicyclist died at the location, and the driver remained and is cooperating with investigators, authorities said.
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Using data collected from an educator certificate exam in 2018 that Knowles took under her own name and comparisons of check-in photos, investigators found Knowles took or tried to take the exams for multiple women and one man, according to the affidavit.
Adjective
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The acquisition aims to fuel Air Sprint's next phase of growth, including fleet expansion, operational enhancements, and technology investments to solidify its market leadership.
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October 1 is the deadline for formalizing operational plans for the upcoming water year.
Adjective
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Sox starter Davis Martin was also very effective, scattering four hits in 5 1/3 scoreless innings.
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There’s scepticism around how effective supplements and vitamins like magnesium and collagen actually are, experts and nutritionists previously told CNBC.
Cite this Entry
“Operative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/operative. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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