Synonyms for operative

Noun

1. secret agent, intelligence officer, intelligence agent, operative, agent

usage: a person secretly employed in espionage for a government

2. private detective, PI, private eye, private investigator, operative, shamus, sherlock, detective

usage: someone who can be employed as a detective to collect information

Adjective

1. operative (vs. inoperative), at work(predicate), operant, effective, good, in effect(predicate), in force(predicate), operational, in operation(predicate), operating(prenominal), working

usage: being in force or having or exerting force; "operative regulations"; "the major tendencies operative in the American political system"

2. operative

usage: of or relating to a surgical operation; "operative surgery"

3. surgical (vs. medical), operative, preoperative, postoperative

usage: relating to or requiring or amenable to treatment by surgery especially as opposed to medicine; "a surgical appendix"; "a surgical procedure"; "operative dentistry"

4. operative, key, significant (vs. insignificant), important

usage: effective; producing a desired effect; "the operative word"

5. running(prenominal), operative, functional, working(prenominal), functioning (vs. malfunctioning)

usage: (of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of performing; "in running (or working) order"; "a functional set of brakes"