Thesaurus
operative
adjective
Synonyms and Antonyms of OPERATIVE
1
being in effective operation <the last operative bookbinder of its kind in the business>
Synonyms alive, functional, functioning, going, live, living, on, operating, operational, operative, running, working
Related Words effective, effectual; employable, operable, usable (also useable), viable, workable; performing, producing, productive, serving, useful, yielding; astir, bustling, busy, dynamic, flourishing, humming, roaring, thriving
Near Antonyms deactivated, decommissioned; ineffective, ineffectual, useless; inoperable, unusable, unworkable; arrested, asleep, dormant, fallow, idle, inert, latent, lifeless, nonproductive, quiescent, sleepy, stagnating, unproductive, vegetating
Antonyms broken, dead, inactive, inoperative, kaput (also kaputt), nonactivated, nonfunctional, nonfunctioning, nonoperating, nonoperational, nonoperative
2
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>
Related Words hyperefficient, ultraefficient; adequate, capable, competent; accomplished, adept, consummate, experienced, expert, masterly, practiced (also practised), proficient, skilled, skillful, versed, veteran, virtuoso; cogent, convincing, killer, sound, striking, telling, valid; active, dynamic; useful, working; applicable, feasible, functional, practicable, practical, realizable, usable (also useable), workable
Near Antonyms counterproductive; incapable, incompetent, inexperienced, inexpert, unqualified, unseasoned, unskilled, unskillful; abortive, bootless, futile, vain; empty, hollow, idle, pointless, unavailing, unprofitable, unsuccessful; inoperative, worthless
Antonyms fruitless, ineffective, ineffectual, inefficient, inoperative, unfruitful, unproductive, useless
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