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
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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
-
The company also argues that accidental firings happen with all manufacturers’ pistols.—
Romy Ellenbogen,
Miami Herald,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Sometimes the last thing a bodice-ripper needs is a reminder that the characters onscreen think leeching is a helpful medical treatment or that disagreements can only be handled with dueling pistols.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
2 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Measures approved in an emergency meeting of the FHSAA board of directors last week call for an independent playoff system designed for teams that have not wanted to compete with the powerhouses that are dominating Florida’s high school football tournaments.—
Buddy Collings,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 Feb. 2026
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Although Texas, California and Florida are widely regarded as the football factory powerhouses on a yearly basis, North Carolina is close behind this year.—
Saad Yousuf,
New York Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Live wires.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/live%20wires. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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