Thesaurus
Synonyms of operative
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
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 for operative
- agent,
- asset,
- emissary,
- intelligencer,
- mole,
- spook,
- spy,
- undercover
Words Related to operative
Phrases Synonymous with operative
2
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 for operative
- detective,
- dick,
- gumshoe,
- hawkshaw,
- investigator,
- private detective,
- private eye,
- private investigator,
- shamus
- [slang],
- sherlock,
- sleuth,
- sleuthhound
Words Related to operative
operative
adjectiveSynonyms & Antonyms of operative (Entry 2 of 2)
1
being in effective operation
- the last operative bookbinder of its kind in the business
Synonyms for operative
- active,
- alive,
- functional,
- functioning,
- going,
- live,
- living,
- on,
- operating,
- operational,
- running,
- working
Words Related to operative
Phrases Synonymous with operative
Near Antonyms for operative
Antonyms for operative
2
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 for operative
Words Related to operative
- accomplished,
- adept,
- consummate,
- experienced,
- expert,
- masterly,
- practiced
- (also practised),
- proficient,
- skilled,
- skillful,
- versed,
- veteran,
- virtuoso
- applicable,
- feasible,
- functional,
- practicable,
- practical,
- realizable,
- usable
- (also useable),
- workable
Near Antonyms for operative
Antonyms for operative
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for operative
The first known use of operative was in the 15th century
See more words from the same century