LIVE WIRES Synonyms: 55 Similar and Opposite Words

live wires

noun

plural of live wire

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

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 Who was lax in announcing that Con Edison would be doing electrical work in the park and there could be danger of live wires? — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 16 Aug. 2026 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

Noun

On his cellphone, according to the complaint, investigators found messages about drug trafficking and firearms, including devices capable of converting Glock pistols into a fully automatic machine gun.

— Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
Two of those pistols were sold to an undercover ATF agent by two members of the GoodFellas days later, officials said.

— Dan Raby, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of pistols

Noun

Sienna Spiro The British soul singer has been one of the buzziest acts in the industry this year, with a generational voice drawing comparisons to fellow English powerhouses Adele and Amy Winehouse.

— Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026
Among its biggest winners are vocal powerhouses Adele and Olivia Rodrigo, though the category is not without its surprises.

— Jaeden Pinder, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of powerhouses

Browse Nearby Words

live wire

live wires

live with

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Live wires.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/live%20wires. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of live wires

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

galore

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes