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
Ew Staff Published, EW.com, 4 July 2025
The Israeli military has repeatedly stated that medical facilities in Gaza are being used as operating bases for Hamas, places to store weapons and as spaces for operatives to hide among the civilian population sheltering in them, an accusation that health officials in the enclave deny.
—Astha Rajvanshi, NBC news, 3 July 2025
Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 29 June 2025
Another Democratic operative notes that Hobbs’ favorability lags behind that of Arizona’s two Democratic senators.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 25 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for operative
Noun
Despite its stranger-than-fiction story, the events depicted in this Best Picture-winning thriller are (for the most part) based in reality, telling the story of CIA operative Tony Mendez (Affleck), who enacted a plan to save six U.S. diplomats in Tehran by posing with his team as a film crew.
—Ew Staff Published, EW.com, 4 July 2025
The Israeli military has repeatedly stated that medical facilities in Gaza are being used as operating bases for Hamas, places to store weapons and as spaces for operatives to hide among the civilian population sheltering in them, an accusation that health officials in the enclave deny.
—Astha Rajvanshi, NBC news, 3 July 2025
Adjective
Merkley asked the presiding chair, first-term Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), if the House reconciliation bill used current law as the operative baseline when it was first laid before the Senate.
—Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 29 June 2025
Another Democratic operative notes that Hobbs’ favorability lags behind that of Arizona’s two Democratic senators.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 25 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for operative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for operative
Noun
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Her group of spies, scouts, and other freedom fighters piloted three Union steamboats snaking up the lower Combahee River with Colonel James Montgomery of the Second South Carolina Volunteers and one battery of the Third Rhode Island Artillery.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes.com,
19 July 2025
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James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli, who surprised the film world and 007 fans by stepping away from the franchise earlier this year, has endorsed the choice of Denis Villeneuve as director for the next instalment of the spy thriller.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
17 July 2025
Noun
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Metro Nashville Police Department homicide detectives are investigating after a woman's body, covered by a garbage bag, was discovered off the side of the road in South Nashville on July 19.—
Austin Hornbostel,
Nashville Tennessean,
20 July 2025
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Homicide detectives are investigating after a man was violently sucked into an MRI machine by a metal chain around his neck, police in New York said.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
19 July 2025
Adjective
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Under Proposition 309, voters casting mail-in ballots could provide a driver's license or non-operating identification license number, the last four digits of a social security number, or a unique identifying number provided by the secretary of state for voter registration purposes.—
Arlyssa D. Becenti,
The Arizona Republic,
27 Oct. 2022
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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
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By having the facility on site, SpaceX hopes to make the delivery of those gases more efficient by eliminating the need to have dozens of trucks deliver them from Brownsville.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
11 July 2025
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Organizations that focus on integrating their systems may see faster, more efficient reporting, centralized information management and a comprehensive view of progress toward goals.—
Cynthia Tee,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Noun
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Record company executives, agents, producers and bookers dominate the panel discussions.—
Michael Barnes,
Austin American Statesman,
23 July 2025
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Flood insurance is available through your company, agent, or the National Flood Insurance Program.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
22 July 2025
Noun
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In its lawsuit, the agency’s investigators said Frost’s company, First Liberty Building and Loan, lied to investors about lending high-interest loans to small firms.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
11 July 2025
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Near his body, the Kommersant newspaper reported, investigators found a Glock pistol that Starovoit had been given as an award.—
Clare Sebastian,
CNN Money,
11 July 2025
Adjective
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Cook, 64, has been Apple’s CEO for nearly 14 years and is widely respected for his operational acumen.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
15 July 2025
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Consider traveling with a compact Starlink Mini, as satellite internet often remains operational even when other internet services are down.—
Skye Sherman,
Travel + Leisure,
15 July 2025
Adjective
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Seniors who participate in the AmeriCorps programs, for example, also are involved in different but related programs that may now be less effective because AmeriCorps dollars provided transportation or other services.—
Dan Horn,
The Enquirer,
23 July 2025
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Our tester found the Rubbermaid Reveal to be especially effective for detail cleaning in tight spaces like grout lines and corners.—
Maggie Horton,
People.com,
22 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Operative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/operative. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
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