operative 1 of 2

noun

Definition of operativenext
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

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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

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operative

2 of 2

adjective

ˈä-p(ə-)rə-tiv How to pronounce operative (audio)
1
as in operating
being in effective operation the last operative bookbinder of its kind in the business

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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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of operative
Noun
Political operatives tied to Florida Power & Light’s parent company were involved in the scandal, and a former Republican state senator was convicted of violating campaign finance laws. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 27 June 2026 These cybercriminals are like the Hollywood movie character Jason Bourne, a highly surreptitious operative who avoids detection through diversion, disguises, deflecting and blending into the environment. — Eric Herzog, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Adjective
The upcoming Splatoon Raiders ditches the series' trademark, competitive multiplayer shooting, to focus entirely on single-player and co-operative raids. — Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 30 June 2026 Post-operative care is provided with a special kit containing shampoos, lotions, and medical products, and the clinic maintains high hygiene standards by sanitizing procedure rooms through ultraviolet technology. — Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 20 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for operative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for operative
  1. spy
  2. detective
  3. operating
  4. efficient
  5. agent
  6. investigator
  7. operational
  8. effective
Noun
  • As expected, Carly didn’t take the bait, reproaching Z for referring to her daughter by her last name, spy style.
    — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 6 July 2026
  • Outside of spy movies, documents rarely self-destruct after they’re read — and fortunately for mathematicians, proofs are no exception.
    — Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 6 July 2026
Definition of spy
Noun
  • My dad, a police detective, made sure the Klansman saw his service revolver on his waist.
    — Maureen Dowd, Mercury News, 4 July 2026
  • Police ask any witnesses who were not contacted by authorities at the scene to contact detectives at (805) 654-9511.
    — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
Definition of detective
Adjective
  • True, some if the upside surprise has come from non-operating gains on holdings in huge, private AI pioneers, but not all of it.
    — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 2 June 2026
  • Exxon operates some of the wells directly and holds a financial, non-operating interest in the others.
    — Rachel Nostrant, Houston Chronicle, 26 Jan. 2026
Definition of operating
Adjective
  • But the Idaho side never found the back of the net again while Knoxville proved lethally efficient with its limited opportunities.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 3 July 2026
  • One of the greatest changes is that the second-gen model has a hybrid powertrain option for drivers who want an efficient midsize hybrid SUV.
    — Charles Singh, USA Today, 2 July 2026
Definition of efficient
Noun
  • These gateways address growing concerns about ungoverned AI agents directly interacting with production systems, offering vital governance, security, cost management, and observability.
    — Janakiram MSV, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
  • The agent confiscated the letter, carried by Cuban businessman Roberto Carlos Chamizo, and sent him back to Havana.
    — Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 6 July 2026
Definition of agent
Noun
  • Hinds County’s chief death investigator, Jeramiah Howard, attributed her death to the heat.
    — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 5 July 2026
  • Carla Walker cold case The 1974 murder of 17-year-old Carla Walker in Fort Worth, Texas, went unsolved for more than four decades before advanced DNA testing helped investigators identify her killer.
    — Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of investigator
Adjective
  • Adding to this context, engineering manager Roel Verhoeven noted that the primary hurdle for commercial fusion is ensuring that plants can actually be serviced throughout their operational lifespans.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 4 July 2026
  • North Korea first unveiled the Choe Hyon in April 2025, which Kim portrayed as a major step toward expanding his military’s operational reach and preemptive strike capabilities.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 July 2026
Definition of operational
Adjective
  • Her colleague Maria Amato adds a harder constraint — the most effective leadership development happens on the job, inside the relationships management layers exist to create.
    — Cindy Rodriguez Constable, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • How to prevent the spread of rabies Avoiding contact with wildlife remains the most effective way to prevent rabies transmission, according to the CDC.
    — Kelli Arseneau, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Definition of effective

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Cite this Entry

“Operative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/operative. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of operative for Spanish Speakers

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