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
Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 11 Jan. 2025
Pilgrimages to Mar-a-Lago, promoting a former GOP operative to be his top communications guy, and giving $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund have been just a few on the tactics employed by the billionaire to get in the former Celebrity Apprentice host’s good graces.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 10 Jan. 2025
Dan Murphy,natasha Turak, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2024
The disclosures described above don’t include the actual operative lease or loan documents, both of which also seem to multiply into a pile of ever-more separate documents over time, though that pile is often dwarfed by the various disclosures.
—Joshua Stein, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for operative 
Noun
The torture the men experienced at the hands of CIA operatives has made some evidence against them inadmissible in court.
—Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 11 Jan. 2025
Pilgrimages to Mar-a-Lago, promoting a former GOP operative to be his top communications guy, and giving $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund have been just a few on the tactics employed by the billionaire to get in the former Celebrity Apprentice host’s good graces.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
Qatar Airways, which is undertaking a major strategic overhaul under its new leadership, added that the service will be free of charge and will be operative from gate to gate.
—Dan Murphy,natasha Turak, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2024
The disclosures described above don’t include the actual operative lease or loan documents, both of which also seem to multiply into a pile of ever-more separate documents over time, though that pile is often dwarfed by the various disclosures.
—Joshua Stein, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for operative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for operative
Noun
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Until this week, the talks loomed as the major unfulfilled mission, or even failure, of his time leading the spy agency.—
Julian E. Barnes,
New York Times,
18 Jan. 2025
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The movie stars Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx as Emily and Matt, a pair of former CIA spies who traded their lives as operatives to start a family.—
Francesca Gariano,
People.com,
18 Jan. 2025
Noun
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According to detectives, the couple made statements that concerned them during that visit, 48 Hours reports.—
Sean Neumann,
People.com,
20 Jan. 2025
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Lynch played the detective, and his voice and delivery is a big part of what makes this piece such a riveting, hilarious watch.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Jan. 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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Mahomes and Allen responded by becoming ruthlessly efficient quarterbacks.—
Ted Nguyen,
The Athletic,
24 Jan. 2025
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The Bills, led by an efficient Allen and a solid defense, will end Mahomes’ dreams of a three-peat.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
24 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Even though Joel Wolfe, Sasaki's agent, has been trying to dispel that notion since at least November, he was asked to address it again Wednesday at Sasaki's introductory press conference in Los Angeles.—
Raul A. Reyes,
Newsweek,
23 Jan. 2025
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The Trump administration’s Tuesday announcement that federal immigration agents would not face limits on arrests at or near sensitive locations — which alongside schools, also covers hospitals and houses of worship — undid over a decade of precedent, including Trump’s first four years in office.—
Cayla Bamberger,
New York Daily News,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The informant told investigators Melo planned to smuggle drugs onto the cruise.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
24 Jan. 2025
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The forum is dominated by anonymous posts about would-be applicants complaining about waiting months to hear back from background investigators.—
Libor Jany,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Advertisement Despite the harrowing circumstances, employees kept the 88-year-old institution operational throughout the disaster, in some cases putting decades worth of worst-case emergency training to use for the first time.—
Corinne Purtill,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Jan. 2025
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This can lead to long-term operational disruptions and power outages, affecting local or regional energy supplies.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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This isn't necessarily contradictory - effective free trade requires rules and enforcement mechanisms.—
Robert Daugherty,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
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What ensues is clothing that comes across as effective while speaking to the idea of conjuring a capsule wardrobe.—
Robyn Mowatt,
Essence,
23 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near operative
Cite this Entry
“Operative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/operative. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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