operations

noun

plural of operation
1
as in missions
a specific task with which a person or group is charged a secret operation which, if it is discovered, the government will deny any knowledge of

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2
as in processes
a usually fixed or ordered series of actions or events leading to a result a specific mathematical operation is required in order to get the correct answer

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3
as in managements
the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something given the constant threat of robbery, the operation of a convenience store can be quite stressful

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4
as in applications
the act or practice of employing something for a particular purpose a considerable amount of training is required for the operation of these new high-tech weapons systems

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of operations Leaders of several similar operations including Masonicare in Wallingford, Duncaster in Bloomfield and Elim Park in Hamden joined Fairview officials in applauding its growth. — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2026 That is potentially significant because modern military operations increasingly depend on networks containing aircraft, ships, unmanned systems, sensors and command-and-control nodes from multiple organizations. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 10 Aug. 2026 Traffic, construction projects, mining operations, industrial work, concerts and sporting events all generate small but measurable ground movements known as anthropogenic seismic noise. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 As of Monday, at least three helicopters have been deployed for water-bombing operations over hot spots that are difficult to reach by land. — ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026 As president and executive director, Willis is set to guide HSSV through the next phase of its rebuild while strengthening its programs, operations and long-term ability to serve pets and people throughout the region. — Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 9 Aug. 2026 If the body were an army, Klotho would be a brigadier general, directing operations from a high-ranking post. — Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 9 Aug. 2026 Two days later, Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations, traded for Kris Bubic, a lefty from Kansas City, who made the All-Star Game last season. — Diego Lasarte, New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2026 Militaries often run command and control operations away from the frontlines; enemies have sought to disrupt those communications through jamming and, in the past few decades, cyberattacks. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for operations
  1. missions
  2. processes
  3. managements
  4. applications
  5. jobs
  6. procedures
  7. controls
  8. uses
Noun
  • Further testing will determine how effectively the UUV can translate those features into operational missions.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Forces were also sent to Los Angeles and Chicago, though those missions became tied up in legal challenges and troops were eventually withdrawn.
    — Steven Beynon, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of missions
Noun
  • The facility will be used to build and test equipment, work with real-world feedstocks and prepare processes for commercial deployment.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Improving representation is an important step, but leaders must also build processes that invite different viewpoints and give team members room to challenge prevailing ideas.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of processes
Noun
  • Most managements feel that the — on the price of their shares — that the higher, the better.
    — Alex Crippen, CNBC, 9 Aug. 2026
  • These are different eras, and the respective managements are no longer the same, but something about this feels off.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 May 2026
Definition of managements
Noun
  • With so many versatile applications, chances are there’s a use for peppermint oil in your household.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
  • After that, the company could seek permits and other applications necessary to open its doors.
    — Ashley Grams, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of applications
Noun
  • The Republican nominee also said the work agreements that allow many state employees to perform their jobs remotely need reform as well.
    — Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 2026
  • While the good-paying white-collar jobs in the ‘burbs are getting slashed, the substantial workforce Capital One inherited from Discover in the city of Chicago largely has been spared.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of jobs
Noun
  • Homendy has warned that without making changes in regulations, operating procedures and laws, close calls and incidents like what happened with Marine One could continue to occur.
    — Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The former quarterback said the procedures were eye-opening and humbling.
    — David Brandt, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of procedures
Noun
  • Beijing's core motivation is maintaining strict capital controls; a freely transferable yuan token would undermine this.
    — Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Investigators allege the scheme relied on a critical breakdown in internal controls.
    — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of controls
Noun
  • Benefits and uses of peppermint oil Made from crushed peppermint leaves, peppermint oil comes in various forms, each with its own use.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
  • And no matter how brilliant the technology, the transition to AI could lead to a plethora of problems—whether having to do with military uses, cyberattacks, or rogue AI—that will force policymakers to dramatically slow down its implementation.
    — Kenneth S. Rogoff, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of uses

Browse Nearby Words

operational
operations
operative
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Cite this Entry

“Operations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/operations. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of operations for Spanish Speakers

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