Synonyms of borderline

borderline 1 of 3

adjective

ˈbȯr-dər-ˌlīn 

as in frontier

located at or near a border

a borderline region that is claimed by both countries

Synonyms & Similar Words

• frontier
• marginal
• outer
• exterior
• external
• outermost
• outside
• outward
• outmost

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• inner
• internal
• interior
• inward
• inside
• middle
• central
• innermost
• mid
• inmost

borderline

2 of 3

adverb

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

• almost
• practically
• nearly
• fairly
• virtually
• about
• most
• somewhere
• just about
• pretty much
• fair
• nigh
• well-nigh
• near
• mostly
• somewhat
• as good as
• more or less
• next to
• feckly
• largely
• much
• all but
• mainly
• partially
• within an inch of
• chiefly
• by and large
• partly
• appreciably
• kind of

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• quite
• completely
• absolutely
• entirely
• fully
• thoroughly
• altogether
• plain
• well
• totally
• utterly
• wholly
• plumb
• hardly
• barely
• scarcely

borderline

3 of 3

noun

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

• edge
• perimeter
• border
• confines
• boundary
• verge
• edging
• circumference
• margin
• end
• fringe
• periphery
• rim
• bound
• frame
• skirt
• outskirts
• brim
• skirting
• cusp
• hem
• compass
• extent
• lip
• mere
• curb
• ceiling
• maximum
• brink
• limitation
• crest
• demarcation
• restriction
• pale
• shore
• borderland
• termination
• frontier
• measure
• ambit
• lap
• march
• selvage

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• center
• heart
• core
• within
• middle
• interior
• inside
• inner

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of borderline

Adjective

The result is borderline Succession-esque in its level of absurdity, and D’Arcy, so reliably tormented, gets to show sides of the character that have never even been hinted at before. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 15 June 2026

Harron slyly transforms it into a savage social satire, using the narrator’s unreliable point of view to borderline absurdist effect. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 9 June 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

Also known as Sarah Squirm, Sherman brought an entirely new level of absurdist, borderline-horror humor to the SNL stage that quickly turned her into a fan favorite cast member. — Emily Kelleher, InStyle, 9 July 2026

Looking back at my high school photos is a borderline jump scare. — Abby Morgan Lebet, Glamour, 6 July 2026