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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of operative
Barak Ravid, Axios, 2 Dec. 2024
The Justice Department has already indicted a former Indian operative in the Pannun case—an indictment that an insecure Attorney General Pam Bondi, consumed with silencing Trump’s domestic critics, might let play out.
—Daniel Block, The Atlantic, 30 Nov. 2024
Ollie Barder, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024
Yet this brief text—plus its still operative amendments, another 3,112 words—underwrites our entire system of government.
—Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for operative 
Noun
Driving the news: The Israeli Air Force conducted several airstrikes in recent days against Hezbollah operatives in southern Lebanon but also north of the Litani river.
—Barak Ravid, Axios, 2 Dec. 2024
The Justice Department has already indicted a former Indian operative in the Pannun case—an indictment that an insecure Attorney General Pam Bondi, consumed with silencing Trump’s domestic critics, might let play out.
—Daniel Block, The Atlantic, 30 Nov. 2024
Adjective
Trains being the operative word here, as pretty much all the mecha started out as trains in one way or another.
—Ollie Barder, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024
Yet this brief text—plus its still operative amendments, another 3,112 words—underwrites our entire system of government.
—Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for operative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for operative
Noun
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This John and Jane Smith are two lonely strangers who sign up for a mysterious spy agency and get paired together, posing as a married couple.EW.com, EW.com, 9 Dec. 2024
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Zoom in: Both President Biden and President-elect Trump — and many spies, diplomats and defense officials personally involved in the tumultuous events of the last year — agree that Assad was doomed by the weakening of his allies, Russia and Iran.Barak Ravid, Axios, 9 Dec. 2024
Noun
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During a Monday news conference, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said detectives were traveling to Altoona, about 100 miles east of Pittsburgh, to interview Mangione.James Powel, USA TODAY, 10 Dec. 2024
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Joseph Kenny, the NYPD's chief of detectives, confirmed Monday that the note is now in the possession of the Altoona Police Department.Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
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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That is the kind of plan the Cubs actually might pursue if owner Tom Ricketts were operating the team as a big-market behemoth rather than an efficient Midwest bank.Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic, 13 Dec. 2024
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This helps ensure each project is optimally equipped for efficient execution.Kenzie Biggins, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Noun
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His plan was nearly foiled by Canadian border patrol agents who were suspicious of his not having a driver's license, which had been ditched in his wallet in the lake.David K. Li, NBC News, 12 Dec. 2024
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The money is earmarked for further investment in the technology underpinning the platform – including features such as artificial intelligence agents that support sellers – and to put staff on the ground in its biggest markets, such as the US and the Middle East.David Prosser, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Kenny added that investigators found evidence that Mangione knew of UnitedHealthcare's annual investor conference in New York City.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024
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Federal investigators began looking into Jafari-Hassad’s operation in 2019.Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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These updates aim to extend the operational life of the 61-year-old dam, which is a cornerstone of water management in the Colorado River Basin.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2024
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From there, the company is in great need of an operational turnaround to address its bloated cost structure to bring Healthcare Realty more in line with peers, something else that Starboard has shown to have an expertise in from a board level.Kenneth Squire, CNBC, 7 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Choosing high-end, effective devices can elevate a clinic’s reputation — but incorporating low-quality technologies can have the opposite effect.Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024
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West Virginia’s pilot program is a microcosm of the dilemma posed by new obesity drugs that are at once effective and shockingly expensive.Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near operative
Cite this Entry
“Operative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/operative. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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