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

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

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

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

George was very good last season, and borderline sensational at times. — Tony Jones, New York Times, 2 July 2026

And while Crocker has set a high bar for releases, this latest meets those expectations in some novel and borderline exhilarating ways. — David Thomas Tao, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026