rewire
verb
re·wire
(ˌ)rē-ˈwī(-ə)r 
rewired; rewiring
1
2
: to make lasting and usually beneficial changes to the neurological or psychological functioning of (a person or brain)
—not used technically
The injured brain, moreover, can rewire itself.—
Joan Didion
Joan DidionNot only do studies show that meditation is boosting their immune system, but brain scans suggest that it may be rewiring their brains to reduce stress.—Joel Stein
Joel Stein… nearly nine out of 10 adult smokers started smoking by age 18; nicotine can rewire youths' brains, making heroin and other opioids even more addictive.—Delia DeRiggiWhitton
Delia DeRiggiWhittonCan you rewire yourself? I went back through pivotal points in my life, when one should be happy.—Kim Korson
Kim KorsonExamples of rewire in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The film was billed to me as an attempt to capture the real power and bumbling hubris of a bunch of arrogant and wealthy men (played by Steve Carell, Cory Michael Smith, Jason Schwartzman, and Ramy Youssef) who try to rewire the world and find themselves in way over their heads.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 30 May 2025
One that recognizes the promise of AI, yes—but also its power to disrupt attention, undermine relationships, and rewire the foundations of civilization.
—Robert B. Tucker, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
Trade and technology have rewired global production, but economic statistics measuring outcomes, such as GDP growth and productivity, are still collected on the basis of frameworks devised in the 1940s that focus primarily on the demand side of the economy and its current and past performance.
—Diane Coyle, Foreign Affairs, 16 May 2025
Just as skin can be toughened through manual labour, so the brain can be rewired to plough through difficulty.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 21 May 2025
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Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 30 May 2025
One that recognizes the promise of AI, yes—but also its power to disrupt attention, undermine relationships, and rewire the foundations of civilization.
—Robert B. Tucker, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
Trade and technology have rewired global production, but economic statistics measuring outcomes, such as GDP growth and productivity, are still collected on the basis of frameworks devised in the 1940s that focus primarily on the demand side of the economy and its current and past performance.
—Diane Coyle, Foreign Affairs, 16 May 2025
Just as skin can be toughened through manual labour, so the brain can be rewired to plough through difficulty.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rewire
Cite this Entry
“Rewire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rewire. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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