1
as in pistols
a very energetic person
the babysitter will have her hands full with those two little live wires
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in powerhouses
an ambitious person who eagerly goes after what is desired
that new reporter on the police beat is a real live wire
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 live wires
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
Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for live wires
Noun
-
Most gun violence in America is carried out with pistols, and semiautomatic AR-15-style rifles have been used to commit some of the nation’s deadliest mass shootings.—
Andrew Blankstein,
NBC news,
20 Sep. 2025
-
Those who remained in the South during the brutal fight for Civil Rights saw leaders and laypeople assassinated by white supremacists with long-range rifles, beaten by the butts of shotguns during marches, or shot with pistols at close range.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
What are some of the major issues currently faced by European powerhouses in the international market today?—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
23 Sep. 2025
-
The Los Angeles Dodgers, the National League's most historic franchise, remain one of the biggest powerhouses in baseball to this day.—
Drew VonScio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Live wires.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/live%20wires. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share