Synonyms of operative

operative 1 of 2

noun

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

• spy
• agent
• undercover
• mole
• undercover agent
• emissary
• asset
• secret agent
• informer
• spook
• intelligencer
• courier
• sleeper
• double agent
• infiltrator
• counterspy
• stool pigeon
• spymaster
• superspy

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

• detective
• investigator
• sleuth
• private detective
• private eye
• private investigator
• dick
• gumshoe
• sleuthhound
• tracer
• shamus
• hawkshaw
• tracker
• sherlock
• Federal
• tail
• fed
• narc
• shadow
• plainclothesman
• G-man

operative

2 of 2

adjective

ˈä-p(ə-)rə-tiv 

1

as in operating

being in effective operation

the last operative bookbinder of its kind in the business

Synonyms & Similar Words

• operating
• operational
• functioning
• operable
• active
• functional
• running
• working
• going
• on
• in force
• alive
• live
• in commission
• living
• effective
• on line
• viable
• effectual
• in gear
• useful
• employable
• producing
• usable
• performing
• serving
• dynamic
• workable
• flourishing
• productive
• busy
• yielding
• humming
• thriving
• bustling
• astir
• roaring

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• inoperative
• nonoperative
• dead
• inactive
• broken
• nonfunctional
• nonfunctioning
• nonoperational
• ineffective
• useless
• ineffectual
• nonoperating
• nonactivated
• kaput
• deactivated
• inoperable
• latent
• arrested
• decommissioned
• unworkable
• unusable
• idle
• inert
• dormant
• quiescent
• unproductive
• sleepy
• fallow
• lifeless
• nonproductive
• asleep
• stagnating
• vegetating

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

• efficient
• effective
• productive
• potent
• adequate
• efficacious
• effectual
• fruitful
• useful
• capable
• skilled
• expert
• practiced
• practical
• proficient
• adept
• competent
• convincing
• veteran
• experienced
• skillful
• dynamic
• active
• valid
• cogent
• feasible
• accomplished
• telling
• striking
• practicable
• masterly
• ultraefficient
• hyperefficient
• functional
• killer
• realizable
• consummate
• sound
• versed
• working
• applicable
• usable
• virtuoso
• workable

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• useless
• ineffective
• inoperative
• inefficient
• ineffectual
• unproductive
• fruitless
• incapable
• incompetent
• counterproductive
• inexperienced
• unskilled
• unqualified
• vain
• futile
• unfruitful
• unsuccessful
• abortive
• idle
• hollow
• empty
• inoperative
• unprofitable
• pointless
• worthless
• inexpert
• unskillful
• unseasoned
• bootless
• unavailing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of operative

Noun

Sandinista operatives are suspected in a series of shootings, abductions and killings of Nicaraguan exiles in Costa Rica in recent years. — Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026

The second half throws us into the other timeline, where Ari’s doppelgänger, known as Ibari, is a high-ranking undercover operative willing to disappear fellow citizens that pose challenges to the authoritarian government. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 28 Sep. 2026

Adjective

Also, at least one Dolls doctor, the administrative complaint said, skipped steps in pre-operative risk evaluation of anesthesia and the surgery to be performed or at least failed to document taking each of those steps. — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2026

Kiara suddenly has the ability to jump out of cable cars and scale buildings with a CIA-operative level of precision. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026