as in frontier
located at or near a border
a borderline region that is claimed by both countries
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in almost
very close to but not completely
your answer was borderline rude, so I would advise you to be more diplomatic in the future
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in edge
the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something
the actual borderline separating the two properties is now being disputed
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 borderline
Terry Eliasen, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
For those of us of a certain age, the news of LaBeouf popping up at a random bar in a random city and wreaking havoc is borderline old-fashioned.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 17 Feb. 2026
David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Oct. 2019
Both teams came out hitting to start Game 2 and the intensity jumped another level after McNabb’s borderline hit on Kuznetsov.
—Adam Candee, Detroit Free Press, 30 May 2018
Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 20 Apr. 2026
The court also heard that Logan has since been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, mood disorder, and borderline learning disability.
—Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for borderline
Adjective
This will be a borderline plowable situation.
—Terry Eliasen, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
For those of us of a certain age, the news of LaBeouf popping up at a random bar in a random city and wreaking havoc is borderline old-fashioned.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 17 Feb. 2026
Adverb
Fringe-y/borderline/ticking-time-bomb people are always out there and probably have active imaginations that go way beyond what sometimes pops up in movies.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Oct. 2019
Both teams came out hitting to start Game 2 and the intensity jumped another level after McNabb’s borderline hit on Kuznetsov.
—Adam Candee, Detroit Free Press, 30 May 2018
Noun
But The Pitt’s woes are part of a larger wave sweeping fandoms across many mediums and genres, in which relationships that used to be pleasantly parasocial have become borderline disturbing.
—Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 20 Apr. 2026
The court also heard that Logan has since been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, mood disorder, and borderline learning disability.
—Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for borderline
Recent Examples of Synonyms for borderline
Adjective
-
That worried Huang, who fears a Chinese rival, and White House officials, who believe Chinese dependence on non-frontier American chips is the best way to ensure a lead in AI.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
11 Dec. 2025
Adverb
-
But his days in the City of Brotherly Love are almost certainly numbered.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
-
That made the length of some of Puth’s selections Wednesday seem almost subversive at times.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Patriots had a busy offseason, adding top free agents wide receiver Romeo Doubs, safety Kevin Byard, edge defender Dre’Mont Jones and guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, among other veterans.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The 2022 draft was the last one to be truly wide open at the top — the Jags ended up picking edge rusher Travon Walker in a year that featured three edge rushers and two cornerbacks in the top five, and no quarterback selected until Kenny Pickett at 20.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
These are not marginal improvements.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The year was 1976 and Thin Lizzy — still a marginal band, at best, in America — was putting the finishing touches on Jailbreak, a make-or-break album for their label.—
Devon Ivie,
Vulture,
24 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Borussia Monchengladbach’s Tim Kleindienst has missed practically the entire season because of a recurring knee injury, meaning that even if the 30-year-old were to return in the final few games, the World Cup seems a long shot.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
But following elite competition is nearly impossible, with subtle flicks and jabs practically invisible to the naked eye—and competitors hidden behind masks.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
That came two days before the real WHCD on April 25 was thrown into chaos after an armed man charged through a security perimeter outside the ballroom before he was apprehended.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Working with local police, the Secret Service conducted site reviews of the sprawling complex and established a security perimeter to prevent suspicious individuals from approaching the president and other VIP attendees.—
Michael Collins,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Meanwhile, Austin Barber, who started 47 games at tackle for the Gators, nearly had to wait until Saturday.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Philadelphia scored on seven consecutive late-game possessions, nearly all of them on plays at or near the rim.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In the final scene of the book, Eva and Pista make their way over the Swiss border to freedom, as Biedermann’s grandparents did.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Both Perez and Ramirez said reducing border traffic congestion could also help improve the San Ysidro area.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Borderline.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/borderline. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
