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Expressive vs Operative - What's the difference?

expressive | operative |

As adjectives the difference between expressive and operative

is that expressive is effectively conveying thought or feeling while operative is effectual or important.

As a noun operative is

an employee or other worker with some particular function or skill.

expressive

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Effectively conveying thought or feeling.
  • Antonyms

    * inexpressive * unexpressive

    Derived terms

    * expressiveness

    operative

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Effectual or important.
  • He's usually in a good mood — the operative word there being "usually". Today was a disaster.
  • Functional, in working order.
  • Having the power of acting; hence, exerting force, physical or moral; active in the production of effects.
  • an operative motive
  • * South
  • It holds in all operative principles.
  • Producing the appropriate or designed effect; efficacious.
  • an operative dose, rule, or penalty
  • Based upon, or consisting of, a surgical operation or operations.
  • operative surgery

    Derived terms

    * operative word

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An employee or other worker with some particular function or skill.
  • A spy, secret agent, or detective.
  • A participant of an operation.
  • Anagrams

    * ----