1
as in pistol
a very energetic person
the babysitter will have her hands full with those two little live wires
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in powerhouse
an ambitious person who eagerly goes after what is desired
that new reporter on the police beat is a real live wire
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of live wire
The new science is causing not just a technological sensation, but also a cultural one, twanging a live wire in the popular mind.
—
Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 6 Nov. 2025
That'd essentially be a live wire, said Mark Goldstein, a Wisconsin attorney for Goldstein Law Group S.C., which specializes in employment and corporate law.
—Gina Lee Castro, jsonline.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Critics after the screening agreed that when given a character perfectly tailored to his strengths (cocky sincerity, charismatic twerpiness), Timmy is a live wire.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025
On the other hand, the Cracker Barrel debacle touched so many live wires of American politics that the story was simply irresistible.
—Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for live wire
Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 6 Nov. 2025
That'd essentially be a live wire, said Mark Goldstein, a Wisconsin attorney for Goldstein Law Group S.C., which specializes in employment and corporate law.
—Gina Lee Castro, jsonline.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Critics after the screening agreed that when given a character perfectly tailored to his strengths (cocky sincerity, charismatic twerpiness), Timmy is a live wire.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025
On the other hand, the Cracker Barrel debacle touched so many live wires of American politics that the story was simply irresistible.
—Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for live wire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for live wire
Noun
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Authorities said Diagne used both a pistol and a rifle during the attack.—
Leonard Greene,
New York Daily News,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Police in Austin shot and killed the gunman, who used a pistol and a rifle to carry out the attack, police said.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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For Yurtseven, his Heat breakout in 2021-22 turned into little of note, only a minimal-scale contract with the Utah Jazz in 2023 free agency and such limited success in his return to Europe that he was waived recently by Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos in favor of Richaun Holmes and Mathias Lessort.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Mar. 2026
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Levi is a big, strong powerhouse of a boy.—
Maryanne Dell,
Oc Register,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Fortunately, its farewell tour includes two shows here in La Jolla at The Jai, where the group’s co-founders — bassist Reid Anderson and drummer Dave King — will be joined by pianist Craig Taborn and sax dynamo Chris Potter.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Mar. 2026
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In recent days, OpenAI signed a Mountain View lease that will enable the artificial intelligence dynamo to launch a big expansion into the South Bay.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Live wire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/live%20wire. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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