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
Uwa Ede-Osifo, Dallas Morning News, 5 Jan. 2026
Several new maps enacted in 2025 are expected to yield GOP gains, and party operatives say Republicans could end the year with a net advantage in newly favorable seats.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 1 Jan. 2026
Wyles Daniel, Freep.com, 25 Nov. 2025
Comey's lawyers seized on that admission, and argued during the hearing that the operative indictment was never presented to the grand jury and never voted on.
—Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for operative
Noun
His espionage thriller Lioness, which stars Nicole Kidman and Zoe Saldaña as CIA operatives, is in production on its third season.
—Uwa Ede-Osifo, Dallas Morning News, 5 Jan. 2026
Several new maps enacted in 2025 are expected to yield GOP gains, and party operatives say Republicans could end the year with a net advantage in newly favorable seats.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 1 Jan. 2026
Adjective
These packages typically include a medical consultation and hair analysis, the transplant procedure itself, hotel accommodation, airport and clinic transfers, and detailed post-operative care instructions with follow-up support.
—Wyles Daniel, Freep.com, 25 Nov. 2025
Comey's lawyers seized on that admission, and argued during the hearing that the operative indictment was never presented to the grand jury and never voted on.
—Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for operative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for operative
Noun
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On Monday, Iranian state media said a man was arrested in Tehran on suspicion of collaborating with the Israeli spy agency Mossad.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
7 Jan. 2026
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The story of Quichotte’s quest is being written, in alternating chapters, by Sam DuChamp, a mid-list spy novelist making his first foray into literary fiction.—
Erin Somers,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Nampa detectives eventually learned about Salat’s case in Ada County, where he originally was charged with three counts of lewd conduct with a child under 16, court records show.—
Rose Evans,
Idaho Statesman,
7 Jan. 2026
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Robert Marshall, lead homicide detective, added.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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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
-
Young was remarkably efficient, throwing three TD passes of 30-plus yards and going 15-for-20 for 206 yards.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The problem is Herro provided the bench’s only efficient production against the Timberwolves.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Good was seen in multiple videos reversing her Honda Pilot as ICE agents attempted to open her car door, then moving forward and to the right when the agent opened fire, first through the windshield and then twice through the vehicle's open window, killing the mother of three from Colorado.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
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On he west side of 35W, agents formed a line along the Lake Street corridor.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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According to federal investigators, Neves Velente was responsible for both the Brown University mass shooting that killed two students and injured nine and the murder of Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Nuno Loureiro, each of which occurred in December.—
Molly Parks,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Jan. 2026
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During the search, officials say that investigators found a series of short videos made by Neves Valente after the shootings.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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But food hubs also have high startup and operational costs, challenges with maintaining a consistent supply and demand and recruiting skilled leadership and staff, and navigating organizational, regulatory and food safety requirements, Perez said.—
Cristina LaRue,
Arkansas Online,
9 Nov. 2025
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New operational concept for mine countermeasures The vessel is equipped with a TSAM towed sonar and on board the SAMDIS multi-view sonar.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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What’s more, what makes Allen such a reliable and effective target is his ability to come through with a catch on the most important downs.—
Elliott Teaford,
Oc Register,
8 Nov. 2025
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The Magic shot 31 free throws in the game to Boston’s 16, with Brown — highly effective at drawing contact on drives and pull-ups this season — getting to the line just twice.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Operative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/operative. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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