borderline

play

adjective bor·der·line \ -ˌlīn \

Definition of borderline

1 a :being in an intermediate position or state :not fully classifiable as one thing or its opposite

a borderline state between waking and sleeping

b :not quite up to, typical of, or as severe as what is usual, standard, or expected

borderline intelligence

borderline hypertension

c :characterized by psychological instability in several areas (such as interpersonal relations, behavior, and identity) but only with brief or no psychotic episodes

a borderline personality disorder

2 :situated at or near a border

a borderline town

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borderline

noun

See borderline defined for English-language learners

See borderline defined for kids

Examples of borderline in a Sentence

In borderline cases like these, the best course of action is difficult to determine.
As a borderline diabetic, Lara is able to control her blood sugar levels solely through diet.

Recent Examples of borderline from the Web

He has been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental illnesses, according to trial testimony.

— everton bailey jr., OregonLive.com, "Man who shot Clackamas County deputy sentenced to 10 years in prison," 29 Aug. 2017
Birdville missed the playoffs in 2016 and is borderline to make it in 2017.

— the lonnquist notes, by kevin lonnquist, star-telegram, "Who will win Friday night? Weekly high school football picks are back," 28 Aug. 2017
The fact Starz made us wait this long for more time-traveling drama is borderline cruel.

— christopher rosa, Glamour, "This 'Outlander' Season 3 Trailer Is Steamy and Will Make You Feel Things," 21 Aug. 2017
Both, in essence, just want to be liked and fit in, although Ingrid takes some dark, possibly borderline turns in her expression of that.

— Washington Post, "‘Ingrid Goes West’ satirizes the perils of social media envy," 7 Aug. 2017
Both, in essence, just want to be liked and fit in, although Ingrid takes some dark, possibly borderline turns in her expression of that.

— lindsey bahr, The Seattle Times, "‘Ingrid Goes West’ satirizes the perils of social media envy," 6 Aug. 2017
The result is a spectacularly assaultive, borderline incoherent neo-western that will recruit few new converts but is also guaranteed to leave no spectator indifferent.

— neil young, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Let the Corpses Tan' ('Laissez bronzer les cadavres'): Film Review | Locarno 2017," 5 Aug. 2017
The threat of a military strike on North Korea is borderline insane since the regime is perpetually prepared to inflict massive retaliatory damage on South Korea in that event.

— chas danner, Daily Intelligencer, "North Korea Can Strike California, But Trump’s Foreign Policy Is Still a Work in Progress," 31 July 2017
But Henderson was a no-brainer Hall of Famer, while Raines was considered borderline.

— paul sullivan, chicagotribune.com, "No fast lane to the Hall of Fame for speedster Tim Raines," 28 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'borderline.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of borderline

1907

borderline Synonyms

Synonyms

frontier, marginal

Antonyms

interior

Related Words

outermost, outmost; exterior, external, outer, outside, outward

Near Antonyms

inner, inside, internal, inward; inmost, innermost; central, mid, middle

borderline

adverb

Definition of borderline

:almost, nearly

borderline tacky

borderline suicidal

See borderline defined for English-language learners

Examples of borderline in a Sentence

The movie is only borderline funny.
your answer was borderline rude, so I would advise you to be more diplomatic in the future

Recent Examples of borderline from the Web

There’s no doubting the existence and growing popularity online of conspiratorial—and borderline demented—commentary on Russia.

— jeet heer, New Republic, "No, Liberals Are Not Falling for Conspiracy Theories Just Like Conservatives Do," 23 May 2017

First Known Use of borderline

1925

borderline Synonyms

Synonyms

about, all but, almost, fair [chiefly British], fairly, feckly [chiefly Scottish], more or less, most, much, near, nearly, next to, nigh, practically, somewhere, virtually, well-nigh

Related Words

appreciably, by and large, chiefly, largely, mainly, mostly; kind of, partially, partly, somewhat

Near Antonyms

absolutely, altogether, completely, entirely, fully, plain, plumb [chiefly dialect], quite, thoroughly; totally, utterly, well, wholly; barely, hardly, scarcely

BORDERLINE Defined for English Language Learners

borderline

play

adjective

Definition of borderline for English Language Learners

: having some but not all characteristics of something
: not quite as severe as what is usual or expected
: existing at or near a border

borderline

adverb

Definition of borderline for English Language Learners

: almost or nearly

BORDERLINE Defined for Kids

borderline

play

adjective bor·der·line \ ˈbȯr-dər-ˌlīn \

Definition of borderline for Students

:not quite average, standard, or normal

She's a borderline student for advanced math.

Medical Dictionary

borderline

adjective bor·der·line \ -ˌlīn \

medical Definition of borderline

1 :being in an intermediate position or state :not fully classifiable as one thing or its opposite; especially :not quite up to what is usual, standard, or expected

borderline intelligence

2 :exhibiting typical but not altogether conclusive symptoms

a borderline diabetic

3 :of, relating to, being, or exhibiting a behavior pattern typical or suggestive of borderline personality disorder

a borderline patient

borderline behavior

borderline

noun

medical Definition of borderline

:a person affected with borderline personality disorder

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Examples of borderline in a Sentence

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First Known Use of borderline

borderline Synonyms

Synonyms

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Related Words

Near Antonyms

borderline

Definition of borderline

Examples of borderline in a Sentence

Recent Examples of borderline from the Web

First Known Use of borderline

borderline Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

BORDERLINE Defined for English Language Learners

borderline

Definition of borderline for English Language Learners

borderline

Definition of borderline for English Language Learners

BORDERLINE Defined for Kids

borderline

Definition of borderline for Students

Medical Dictionary

borderline

medical Definition of borderline

borderline

medical Definition of borderline

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