bordering (on)

verb

present participle of border (on)
1
as in touching (on)
to come very close to being that comment borders on insubordination, and you should be more careful in the future

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in adjoining
to be adjacent to that state borders on three others

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bordering (on)
  1. resembling
  2. adjoining
  3. joining
  4. flanking
  5. surrounding
  6. touching
  7. neighboring
Verb
  • The car is bright yellow, long and slim, resembling a pencil.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Some primates carried infants of another species in ways resembling adoption or caregiving, yet rough handling or neglect sometimes resulted in injury or death.
    — Cyril Grueter, Scientific American, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of resembling
Verb
  • The film could use a few more such colorful secondary strands adjoining the main conflict, though one subplot involving a maybe-romance between two jaded journalists assigned to the summit is oddly framed and abruptly dropped.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The organization has partnered with the city on the campus’ redesign since 2012, when planning began to incorporate a vacant lot adjoining the towers into the campus.
    — Jane Horowitz, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026
Definition of adjoining
Verb
  • But those concerns didn’t stop groups of Catholics from joining a recent joyous pilgrimage on Mount Tabor, where the Gospels say Jesus appeared transfigured alongside the Jewish prophets Moses and Elijah.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • On climate, liberals would offer tax rewards for green energy, support joining climate pacts, and phasing out fossil fuels gradually over decades.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of joining
Verb
  • The front end is particularly imposing, with twin LED headlights flanking a broad grille and a substantial-looking skid plate beneath the bumper.
    — Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • There’s a massive plant wall flanking one side of the Main Hall, with about 1,200 pots of living greens.
    — Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026
Definition of flanking
Verb
  • Excitement surrounding the new season is slowly growing among the West Ham United fanbase, but there are lingering issues that remain hard to ignore.
    — Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Israeli warplanes also targeted a teacher’s training college and a religious building in Nabatieh al-Fawqa, around 10 miles east of Ansar, with further strikes reported in the surrounding area.
    — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of surrounding
Verb
  • The Anza-Borrego Foundation doesn’t want the high-voltage lines touching any portion of the park.
    — Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Aug. 2026
  • After the pod places the package on the ground, the patient can collect it without touching the drone or the delivery pod.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of touching
Verb
  • In neighboring New Jersey, new regulations require e-bike riders to be at least 15 and obtain a license and vehicle registration.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Taiwan is no stranger to cyberattacks, particularly from neighboring China, which claims the East Asian democracy as its own and has vowed to annex it, by force if necessary.
    — John Liu, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of neighboring
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

bordering
bordering (on)
borderland
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bordering (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bordering%20%28on%29. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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