Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun operative

2 senses of operative

Sense 1
secret agent, intelligence officer, intelligence agent, operative -- (a person secretly employed in espionage for a government)
       => agent -- (a representative who acts on behalf of other persons or organizations)

Sense 2
private detective, PI, private eye, private investigator, operative, shamus, sherlock -- (someone who can be employed as a detective to collect information)
       => detective -- (an investigator engaged or employed in obtaining information not easily available to the public)

Antonyms of adj operative

4 senses of operative

Sense 1
operative (vs. inoperative) -- (being in force or having or exerting force; "operative regulations"; "the major tendencies operative in the American political system")

inoperative (vs. operative) -- (not working or taking effect; "an inoperative law")
        => down -- (not functioning (temporarily or permanently); "we can't work because the computer is down")
        => dead -- (out of use or operation because of a fault or breakdown; "a dead telephone line"; "the motor is dead")
        => defunct -- (no longer in force or use; inactive; "a defunct law"; "a defunct organization")

Sense 2
surgical (vs. medical), operative -- (relating to or requiring or amenable to treatment by surgery especially as opposed to medicine; "a surgical appendix"; "a surgical procedure"; "operative dentistry")


Sense 3
operative -- (effective; producing a desired effect; "the operative word")

INDIRECT (VIA significant) -> insignificant, unimportant -- (devoid of importance, meaning, or force)

Sense 4
running (prenominal), operative, functional, working (prenominal) -- ((of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of performing; "in running (or working) order"; "a functional set of brakes")

INDIRECT (VIA functioning) -> malfunctioning, nonfunctional -- (not performing or able to perform its regular function; "a malfunctioning valve")

Similarity of adj operative

4 senses of operative

Sense 1
operative (vs. inoperative) -- (being in force or having or exerting force; "operative regulations"; "the major tendencies operative in the American political system")
       => operant -- (having influence or producing an effect; "many emotional determinants at work"; "an operant conscience")
       => effective, good, in effect (predicate), in force (predicate) -- (exerting force or influence; "the law is effective immediately"; "a warranty good for two years"; "the law is already in effect (or in force)")
       => operational, in operation (predicate), operating (prenominal) -- (being in effect or operation; "de facto apartheid is still operational even in the `new' African nations"- Leslie Marmon Silko; "bus service is in operation during the emergency"; "the company had several operating divisions")
       => working -- (serving to permit or facilitate further work or activity; "discussed the working draft of a peace treaty"; "they need working agreements with their neighbor states on interstate projects")

Sense 2
surgical (vs. medical), operative -- (relating to or requiring or amenable to treatment by surgery especially as opposed to medicine; "a surgical appendix"; "a surgical procedure"; "operative dentistry")
       => preoperative -- (happening or done before and in preparation for a surgical operation)
       => postoperative -- (happening or done after a surgical operation; "postoperative complications"; "postoperative care")

Sense 3
operative -- (effective; producing a desired effect; "the operative word")
       => significant (vs. insignificant), important -- (important in effect or meaning; "a significant change in tax laws"; "a significant change in the Constitution"; "a significant contribution"; "significant details"; "statistically significant")

Sense 4
running (prenominal), operative, functional, working (prenominal) -- ((of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of performing; "in running (or working) order"; "a functional set of brakes")
       => functioning (vs. malfunctioning) -- (performing or able to perform its regular function; "a functioning flashlight")