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
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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.
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Torrey Snow,
Baltimore Sun,
29 Apr. 2026
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
25 June 2026
After one borderline pitch, Jensen — playing catcher Thursday — initiated an ABS challenge.
—
Kansas City Star,
25 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
Noun
The song’s spacious production lets its piercing saxophone riffs dissipate into silence, only for borderline obnoxious horns to swirl them back into rhythm.
—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
25 June 2026
After one borderline pitch, Jensen — playing catcher Thursday — initiated an ABS challenge.
—
Kansas City Star,
25 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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Roberts doffed his cap in gratitude for a spirited postgame ovation from the fans here, almost all of them Dodgers fans.
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An index tracking semiconductor stocks has surged almost 88% since March, its best quarterly performance on record, according to FactSet data that goes back until to 1994.
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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The area is under a marginal risk (Level 1 of 5) of severe weather.
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To be sure, the effect is uneven as some very cold places may see modest benefits from marginal warming, at least up to a point.
Adverb
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While there are a few unspoken rules for the main course—most people stick to the classic protein, starch, and vegetable combo—appetizers can be practically anything.
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As someone who practically lives in T-shirts all summer, polo shirts have never been at the top of my shopping list.
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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The score might not suggest dominance, but Colombia controlled the game from the outset and held possession for nearly two-thirds of the match.
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As night falls, the doors open and the nearly 5,000 attendees walk in.
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 5 Jul. 2026.
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