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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of operative
Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2025
Jayson is not entirely thrilled that two of his operatives are dead and their child, Sam, is missing.
—Grace Byron, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2025
Rj MacKenzie, Popular Science, 3 Sep. 2025
As for non-operative, non-surgical treatments, osteoarthritis management could look like a combination of physical therapy, exercise and medications, Garbarino says.
—Caroline C. Boyle, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for operative
Noun
Israeli airstrikes on Doha that killed Hamas operatives have intensified regional drama and prompted emergency meetings of Arab and Islamic leaders in the Qatari capital on September 14.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2025
Jayson is not entirely thrilled that two of his operatives are dead and their child, Sam, is missing.
—Grace Byron, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Some studies have even suggested the drug improves sleep quality in post-operative patients.
—Rj MacKenzie, Popular Science, 3 Sep. 2025
As for non-operative, non-surgical treatments, osteoarthritis management could look like a combination of physical therapy, exercise and medications, Garbarino says.
—Caroline C. Boyle, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for operative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for operative
Noun
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Though Curry got the stats in the box score, the Buckeyes’ coverage, including a spy — usually Arvell Reese — deserves just as much credit for limiting Washington’s offense.—
Dane Brugler,
New York Times,
28 Sep. 2025
-
Lisbeth Salander is part Western hero, part expert hacker, part international spy and part Pippi Longstocking.—
Anders de la Motte,
PEOPLE,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The second season is set to bow next year with Hodge set to return as the iconic detective.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
30 Sep. 2025
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During his confession, Jones said the Nestors hired him to clean around their business — and told detectives what led up to the killings.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
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
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But Edison’s bulb was just one piece of a much more complicated system that included an efficient dynamo – the powerful machine that generated electricity – plus a network of underground wires and new types of lamps.—
Ernest Freeberg,
The Conversation,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Lori Nickel shares how former Brewers player and now-associate manager Rickie Weeks finished his degree to become an efficient communicator.—
Hope Karnopp,
jsonline.com,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Border Patrol agents in San Diego rescued an injured cyclist who fell more than 50 feet from a cliff and into a remote canyon, authorities said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
25 Sep. 2025
-
In our hypothetical example, Club X incur £2m in agent fees on that contract renewal.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Hamilton County Coroner's Office investigators are looking for relatives or friends of a West End woman who died recently.—
Enquirer staff,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
30 Sep. 2025
-
In mid-2020, investigators had a major breakthrough.—
T. Christian Miller,
ProPublica,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Donell Harvin, a homeland security and public health emergency expert at Georgetown University, told CNN on Sunday that the attacker may have conducted pre-operational surveillance and come up with a plan that maximizes fatalities and damage.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
29 Sep. 2025
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This prefab home is covered with massive, operational windows that allow light to pour in on each side and can be opened to let in a cool breeze.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Largely touted as one of the best games ever made, Hades has inspired many imitators, many of which only superficially comprehend the special alchemy of design elements that makes the indie actioner so effective.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
27 Sep. 2025
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That was one of Florida’s most effective lines in the playoffs last season, with the trio outscoring opponents 13-4 in 210 minutes of postseason action.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
27 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Operative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/operative. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
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