1
as in spies
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 detectives
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of operatives
Fujimoto's violent world is set in an alternate timeline 1990s where Devils born of humanity's collective fears roam, and operatives known as Devil Hunters often form contracts with them to acquire their characteristics and powers.
—
Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
Israeli warplanes had recently struck Hamas operatives in Doha, who were visiting a compound to discuss cease-fire negotiations.
—Eric Cortellessa, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
Whether that means New Berlin will reach out to business operatives to fill the space to be vacated by Wausau Equipment isn't certain.
—Jim Riccioli, jsonline.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Only weeks later, on September 11, al-Qaeda operatives hijacked four passenger planes and carried out the deadliest terrorist attack in modern history, killing nearly 3,000 people.
—Big Think, 20 Oct. 2025
The Gardaí believe that the smuggling attempt was arranged and co-financed by the Kinahans, Colombia’s Clan del Golfo, and Hezbollah operatives based in Venezuela.
—Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
Two Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers were killed by terror operatives in Rafah, southern Gaza, threatening the ceasefire with Hamas, Israeli military sources confirmed to Fox News Digital on Sunday.
—Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2025
The president revoked Bolton’s Secret Service detail earlier this year, even as Iranian operatives remained under an indictment for plotting to assassinate him.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 15 Oct. 2025
On Monday, dozens of Hamas operatives were seen at a hospital in southern Gaza during the release of Israeli hostages.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
Israeli warplanes had recently struck Hamas operatives in Doha, who were visiting a compound to discuss cease-fire negotiations.
—Eric Cortellessa, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
Whether that means New Berlin will reach out to business operatives to fill the space to be vacated by Wausau Equipment isn't certain.
—Jim Riccioli, jsonline.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Only weeks later, on September 11, al-Qaeda operatives hijacked four passenger planes and carried out the deadliest terrorist attack in modern history, killing nearly 3,000 people.
—Big Think, 20 Oct. 2025
The Gardaí believe that the smuggling attempt was arranged and co-financed by the Kinahans, Colombia’s Clan del Golfo, and Hezbollah operatives based in Venezuela.
—Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
Two Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers were killed by terror operatives in Rafah, southern Gaza, threatening the ceasefire with Hamas, Israeli military sources confirmed to Fox News Digital on Sunday.
—Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2025
The president revoked Bolton’s Secret Service detail earlier this year, even as Iranian operatives remained under an indictment for plotting to assassinate him.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 15 Oct. 2025
On Monday, dozens of Hamas operatives were seen at a hospital in southern Gaza during the release of Israeli hostages.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for operatives
Noun
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But the show’s dangers aren’t limited to supernatural creatures—sinister scientists, Soviet spies, and government cover-ups all loom large.—
Eliana Dockterman,
Time,
16 Oct. 2025
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Duplicity, directed by Tony Gilroy, follows two corporate spies, Claire (Roberts) and Ray (Owen), who become embroiled in a clandestine love affair.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The film sees detectives discover the remains of 23 women and six men at the residence of filmmaker and serial killer Mark Chapel, who is arrested along with a collaborator, Donovan Summers, who is also later detained.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
22 Oct. 2025
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In their investigation, detectives learned that Garfias, Vargas’s ex-boyfriend, sent her a text message luring her to the outside of a bar, the district attorney said in the statement.—
KC Baker,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Bennett Lawson, who represents the 44th Ward, told CBS Chicago that tear gas was set off when neighbors protested federal agents pulling a construction worker from a home in Lakeview.—
Daniel S. Levine,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
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Last week, Judge Ellis ordered agents equipped with body cameras to activate them during immigration enforcement and public interactions.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Two of the victims, both of whom were women in their early 20s, told investigators they were raped at the tattoo studio, per the release.—
Nicole Acosta,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
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Tracing them to Maduro would take federal investigators months.—
Joshua Goodman,
Fortune,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Operatives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/operatives. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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