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.
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Recent Examples of borderline
Nate Freeman,
Vanity Fair,
8 May 2026
His rhetoric and borderline audacious claims telegraphed that failure to make progress on the bridge was more than a mere infrastructure hindrance.
—
Torrey Snow,
Baltimore Sun,
29 Apr. 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
ABC News,
10 June 2026
But to focus only on the destination along this enchanting highway is borderline criminal.
—
David Amsden,
Travel + Leisure,
10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for borderline
Adjective
The mood in Venice is still borderline ecstatic, full of gossip, parties, and people chatting about art in their respective cities, trading business cards, discovering new talent, eating, drinking, and stumbling around, running into old friends.
—
Nate Freeman,
Vanity Fair,
8 May 2026
His rhetoric and borderline audacious claims telegraphed that failure to make progress on the bridge was more than a mere infrastructure hindrance.
—
Torrey Snow,
Baltimore Sun,
29 Apr. 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
Ohtani quickly fell behind 3-0, with the first and third pitches borderline calls on 98 mph fastballs that home plate umpire Felix Neon ruled balls.
—
ABC News,
10 June 2026
But to focus only on the destination along this enchanting highway is borderline criminal.
—
David Amsden,
Travel + Leisure,
10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for borderline
Recent Examples of Synonyms for borderline
Adjective
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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.
Adverb
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Which side of a sun shade faces out Not using a sunshade properly almost defeats the purpose of using one at all.
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Your chance to take up to 70 percent off brands like Samsonite, Vionic, and New Balance is almost gone.
Noun
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The Americans came out energized in the second half and a Berhalter banger from the edge of the penalty area tied it up 2-2 in the 49th minute.
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The Samurai Blue have the edge on shots, 2-1, but Sweden has the lone shot on target so far through 25 minutes.
Adjective
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But in most of the country, the AI infrastructure boom has likely had a more marginal impact on electricity prices compared to grid damage sustained by extreme weather events or the costs of utility companies’ capital expenditures that are passed on to consumers.
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The $100 won will be considered taxable income and subject to taxation at the taxpayer’s marginal tax rate.
Adverb
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Track Shorts and Button-Downs I’ve used track shorts and oversized button-downs as my go-to uniform since spring, practically becoming a cartoon character by rewearing the same outfit over and over.
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At one point, Witherspoon was asked a question about the impact of her iconic fashionista lawyer and practically burst into tears.
Noun
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Following multiple 911 calls, officers arrived at the scene and set up a perimeter.
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The sheriff's office said deputies established a perimeter in the area and were actively searching for the suspect or suspects.
Adverb
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That game skyrocketed him to fame from some 50,000 to nearly 10 million Instagram followers in a day.
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The Mets nearly answered against Wheeler in the bottom of the first, as Soto — with a runner on first base — drilled a 397-foot drive to right-center.
Noun
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Tucked along the Green River, not far from the Utah-Wyoming border, the refuge serves as a vital sanctuary for migratory birds and threatened species like the bald eagle.
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Allowed Trump to turn back asylum-seekers at the southern border and to immediately halt temporary protection from deportation for Syrians and Haitians.
Cite this Entry
“Borderline.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/borderline. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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