1
as in pistol
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 powerhouse
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 wire
And upon her return, Dana is a live wire.
—
Sam Reed, Glamour, 6 Mar. 2026
Place is a live wire 6 minutes before kickoff.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 17 Jan. 2026
As the person drove to the site, UI received four phone calls from the city of New Haven Fire Dispatch reporting that a live wire was down, PURA wrote.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 9 Jan. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for live wire
Sam Reed, Glamour, 6 Mar. 2026
Place is a live wire 6 minutes before kickoff.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 17 Jan. 2026
As the person drove to the site, UI received four phone calls from the city of New Haven Fire Dispatch reporting that a live wire was down, PURA wrote.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 9 Jan. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for live wire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for live wire
Noun
-
Garcia is opening his car door at that very moment, and fires nine shots at Denis with his 9 mm Glock pistol as Denis speeds toward and past him.—
Ella Moore,
Miami Herald,
19 May 2026
-
Despite the Miura’s gearbox being mounted at some distance, behind its transverse engine (a layout inspired by the Austin Mini), the pistol-grip lever moves positively around the open metal gate.—
Tim Pitt,
Robb Report,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Jane Fonda and Julia Louis-Dreyfus both embraced powerhouse glamour in black sequined gowns with sleeves and high necklines.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
-
America has the population, resources and growing soccer culture necessary to someday become a global powerhouse.—
Clemente Lisi,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
The new study instead suggests the dynamo may come from continuous core growth itself.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
10 May 2026
-
His many credits include performances with the New York Philharmonic, pioneering minimalist composer Philip Glass, genre-blurring singer Cecile McLorin Salvant, drum dynamo Tyshawn Sorey and such past and present jazz sax powerhouses as Benny Golson, Jimmy Heath and Branford Marsalis.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Live wire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/live%20wire. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
