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
Years later, drawn into a covert network of operatives and manipulated through a web of corruption, Clay must decide whether to become the weapon he was shaped to be or dismantle the system from within.
—
Alex Ritman, Variety, 28 Apr. 2026
Authorities should also examine whether Allen was known to authorities and, if so, whether intelligence operatives could have pieced together his train travel and arrival in the president’s orbit, Shortland said.
—Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
The indictment says that in exchange for money, the soldiers maintained contact with Iranian intelligence operatives over a few months and carried out a range of tasks under their direction.
—Sean Nevin, NBC news, 24 Apr. 2026
Before the outbreak of its latest war with Israel in 2023, estimates of Hezbollah's military strength ranged from 30,000 to more than 50,000 operatives.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
Through much of the 19th century plenty of American journalists were either directly on the government payroll or had sideline patronage jobs working as political party operatives.
—Corey Hutchins, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Apr. 2026
His former clients include the political operatives Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro.
—Diego Lasarte, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2026
Some operatives say the allegations were shocking in their scale, but didn’t come entirely out of left field—rumors about Swalwell’s behavior had quietly circulated in political circles for years.
—Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 15 Apr. 2026
Shoshani said Israel warned civilians to evacuate before the strikes, but Hezbollah moved its operatives into new civilian locations.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2026
Alex Ritman, Variety, 28 Apr. 2026
Authorities should also examine whether Allen was known to authorities and, if so, whether intelligence operatives could have pieced together his train travel and arrival in the president’s orbit, Shortland said.
—Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
The indictment says that in exchange for money, the soldiers maintained contact with Iranian intelligence operatives over a few months and carried out a range of tasks under their direction.
—Sean Nevin, NBC news, 24 Apr. 2026
Before the outbreak of its latest war with Israel in 2023, estimates of Hezbollah's military strength ranged from 30,000 to more than 50,000 operatives.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
Through much of the 19th century plenty of American journalists were either directly on the government payroll or had sideline patronage jobs working as political party operatives.
—Corey Hutchins, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Apr. 2026
His former clients include the political operatives Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro.
—Diego Lasarte, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2026
Some operatives say the allegations were shocking in their scale, but didn’t come entirely out of left field—rumors about Swalwell’s behavior had quietly circulated in political circles for years.
—Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 15 Apr. 2026
Shoshani said Israel warned civilians to evacuate before the strikes, but Hezbollah moved its operatives into new civilian locations.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for operatives
Noun
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Having played British spies, lords, WWII fighters pilots and even wrestlers, Jack Lowden has now taken on his most contemporary role to date.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Remember the spies, Boris and Natasha?—
Marla Jo Fisher,
Oc Register,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Execution-style murder Within weeks, detectives arrested Jackson, a neighbor whose fingerprints and DNA were found inside the home, according to authorities.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2026
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Following his court appearance, Evanston police detectives later took Lee into custody in connection with the Mason Park shooting, according to the report.—
Claire Murphy,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Bo Erickson | Reuters A source who was attending the event, and was briefed by Secret Service after the shooting, told CNBC’s Eamon Javers that a man with a shotgun had approached metal detectors and was shot by Secret Service agents.—
Kevin Breuninger,
CNBC,
26 Apr. 2026
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Players and coaches have become maddeningly mealy-mouthed, striving to avoid upsetting agents, sponsors, owners, fans, thin-skinned politicians, and whoever else might object.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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At the time, federal investigators in Boston were heavily focused on violent crime, drug trafficking and organized crime cases.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Apr. 2026
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According to Diane, at the time of Denise’s disappearance, investigators searched fields and open land for any sign of her, but nothing was ever recovered.—
Sarah Dahlberg,
NBC news,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Operatives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/operatives. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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