Definition of operationalnext

Example Sentences

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Recent Examples of operational The objective is to degrade the operational capacity of gangs to a level that Haitian institutions can sustainably manage, creating the time and space for the state to reassert its authority. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026 These plants carry a typical operational lifetime of around 30 years. Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 24 Apr. 2026 However, these stocks also carry company-specific risks — including operational challenges, cost pressures and management decisions — in addition to metal price volatility. Sharon Wu, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026 Two of the five are fully operational, two are nearly done, and one is about halfway built. ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for operational
Recent Examples of Synonyms for operational
Adjective
  • Exxon operates some of the wells directly and holds a financial, non-operating interest in the others.
    Rachel Nostrant, Houston Chronicle, 26 Jan. 2026
  • 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
Adjective
  • From 2021 to 2023, about two-thirds of adults over 65 had hypertension, according to the operative definition at the time.
    The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
  • Endless is the operative word at Lavo Italian Restaurant’s weekend brunch, where the traditional sit-down meal gives way to a high‑energy, indulgent experience that feels unmistakably Vegas.
    USA TODAY NETWORK, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Collins says cleaning a functioning or newer dryer once every two years is sufficient to clear our major blocks and prevent more serious complications, such as clogs that can lead to fires.
    Kristine Gill, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Apr. 2026
  • Investigators say the error was compounded by non-functioning signal systems along with failures in staffing, oversight and maintenance during years of delays in safety upgrades.
    ABC News, ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Operational.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/operational. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

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