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
Jeremy Kohler, ProPublica, 24 Apr. 2025
The 12 episodes of Andor Season 1 spanned a year in the galaxy far, far away and saw Cassian go from being reluctantly drawn into the rebellion in order to save his own skin to becoming a devoted resistance operative.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 22 Apr. 2025
Krystal Nurse, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2025
Wearing sunglasses and a heavy leather trenchcoat, Fishburne showed off his action movie chops as the enigmatic operative Morpheus in the original film and the first two sequels.
—Greg Braxton, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for operative
Noun
At the heart of the dispute — and the lead defendant in the case — was Ed Martin, a lawyer by training and a political operative by trade.
—Jeremy Kohler, ProPublica, 24 Apr. 2025
The 12 episodes of Andor Season 1 spanned a year in the galaxy far, far away and saw Cassian go from being reluctantly drawn into the rebellion in order to save his own skin to becoming a devoted resistance operative.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
Beyond the part itself, the bureau recommends that people ensure their car alarms are operative and to park in safe locations.
—Krystal Nurse, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2025
Wearing sunglasses and a heavy leather trenchcoat, Fishburne showed off his action movie chops as the enigmatic operative Morpheus in the original film and the first two sequels.
—Greg Braxton, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for operative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for operative
Noun
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The season also brings back Monica Barbaro — fresh off her Oscar nomination for A Complete Unknown — as Schwarzenegger’s spy dad’s daughter.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
20 May 2025
-
Paramount, the studio behind the eighth spy thriller, also hosted premieres in Tokyo and London.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
19 May 2025
Noun
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Last fans saw, she was picked up by two New York Police Department officers who escorted her off a bus and told her detectives at the police station had questions for her about Famous' death.—
Julia Moore,
People.com,
9 May 2025
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On the day of the killing, police said that Hawkins was cooperating with detectives’ investigation.—
Emerson Clarridge,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 May 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
Airlines, including United, are working with the FAA to address the issues and ensure safe and efficient air travel.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
13 May 2025
-
Proper muscle recovery allows muscles to rest and heal, which will help make your workout routine safer and more efficient.—
Health,
Health,
12 May 2025
Noun
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This solution integrates contact centers with operational systems, enabling both self-service and live agent support across channels like voice, chat, and SMS.—
Gene Marks,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
-
The team also included A.R.G.U.S. agent John Economos (Steve Agee) of the Belle Reve Penitentiary, National Security Agency agent and former Waller aide Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland), and new team member Leota Adebayo (Danielle Brooks).—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
11 May 2025
Noun
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Similarly, in October 2023, Orange County investigators used the technology to identity Michael Ray Schlicht of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, whose body had been found in 1974 near in unincorporated Laguna Hills, now the city of Aliso Viejo, California.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
13 May 2025
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With a fingerprint match in hand, Santa Clara County investigators and San Jose police traveled to Ohio earlier this year to collect a DNA sample from Sims, with assistance from Ashtabula County authorities.—
Bethany Brown,
People.com,
12 May 2025
Adjective
-
There are at least seventeen currently operational rotating restaurants in the United States, the closest being the Skydome Restaurant in Arlington, Virginia, but the disappointing memory of Stouffer’s was Meyer’s only benchmark.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
18 May 2025
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In addition, women often have to deal with what Biggins describes as operational overload.—
Trevor Clawson,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2025
Adjective
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Building effective dashboards requires moderate Notion skills but minimal ongoing maintenance.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2025
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But the past has shown external pressure – especially from Washington – can be effective.—
Farah N. Jan,
The Conversation,
10 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Operative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/operative. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
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