live wires

noun

plural of live wire
1
as in pistols
a very energetic person the babysitter will have her hands full with those two little live wires

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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 Response efforts were slowed as debris blocked roads and live wires created hazardous conditions. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 4 July 2026 Trees and branches were taken out, and live wires went down. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 22 June 2026 One of the brothers used a carbon-fibre pole while attempting to get the bird down and touched the live wires on the power line, killing him instantly. — Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 25 Apr. 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for live wires
  1. pistols
  2. powerhouses
Noun
  • The lawsuit targets legislation that took effect Wednesday and bans the sale of pistols that can easily be converted to fully automatic weapons, or machine guns.
    — Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026
  • The law goes after Glock-style pistols, which can be converted into fully-automatic machine guns.
    — Gavin J. Quinton, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of pistols
Noun
  • Neither side has played to the best of their abilities thus far, but both powerhouses have been smart and savvy enough to get the job done.
    — Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
  • The matchup for the FIFA World Cup semifinal at AT&T Stadium is set, with powerhouses France and Spain playing for a chance to advance to the final.
    — Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 July 2026
Definition of powerhouses

Browse Nearby Words

live wire
live wires
live with
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Cite this Entry

“Live wires.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/live%20wires. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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