operative word
The crucial phrase
The operative word in a statement is the one that carries the most significance or that changes the meaning most dramatically.
When someone says the operative word is "if", they're drawing attention to a crucial condition or qualification that others might overlook.
The phrase often signals skepticism or careful parsing: He said he'd "try" to help—try being the operative word.
- key phraseCentral term in text
- crucialOf supreme importance
- watchwordRallying cry or principle
- pivotalVitally important, deciding
- bottom lineEssential point or conclusion
significant · focus · crux · essential · salient · turn of phrase · equivalent · action verb · catch phrase · emphasis · clincher · stand-in · caveat · proxy · synonymy · sticking point · qualifier · keyword
operative wordfiller word
Meaningless verbal pause
fluff · padding · verbal filler · throwaway · filler
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