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borderline 1 of 3

adjective

ˈbȯr-dər-ˌlīn How to pronounce borderline (audio)
Definition of borderlinenext
as in frontier
located at or near a border a borderline region that is claimed by both countries

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of borderline
Adjective
And sure, six to eight weeks of emergency supplies might sound a little alarmist — maybe borderline doomsday prep-y. — Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 31 July 2026 The Dillon one is actually borderline insane for a guy in an RCR car who understands how to get to the front at these types of races. — Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 11 July 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
That puts them right on the borderline of making the postseason tournament. — David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026 In that aspect, The Whisper Man serves as a commentary on how serial killers are not only sensationalized in pop culture, but given borderline celebrity status. — Josh Weiss, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for borderline
Recent Examples of Synonyms for borderline
  1. frontier
  2. almost
  3. edge
  4. marginal
  5. practically
  6. perimeter
  7. nearly
  8. border
Adjective
  • 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.
    — Charlie Campbell, Time, 11 Dec. 2025
Definition of frontier
Adverb
  • She is based in New York City and can almost always be found at a hot yoga class or on an evening Central Park walk.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The service industry reached a level of convenience that still seems almost utopian.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of almost
Noun
  • The Eagles were not as dominant in 2025, partly due to the regression of the depth in their secondary and the injuries sustained at edge rusher.
    — Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • The facilities would include what’s known as an edge computing data center, which typically is much smaller than traditional data centers and which Global Stack says would require lower utility use and no municipal water connection.
    — Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of edge
Adjective
  • The number of female CEOs at Fortune 500 Europe companies has also shown a marginal improvement, increasing from 41 last year to 43.
    — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2026
  • There is already a feeling among many supporters that the time spent poring over marginal decisions — all those interminable stoppages for calls that are going to cause dissatisfaction, whatever the outcome — is far too much.
    — Oliver Kay, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of marginal
Adverb
  • Trading a state paycheck for a sidewalk food cart is practically unheard of.
    — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Ismail Abdus-Sabur’s youngest child was practically a newborn when he was first taken into custody in January 2014, his family said.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of practically
Noun
  • Cal Fire officials at a Friday morning briefing said crews were making progress with hose lines along the fire’s perimeter ahead of the anticipated full opening of westbound I-80.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Officers were on the scene near the hospital and have established a perimeter in the area, according to the Miami Beach Police Department's Facebook page.
    — Sergio Candido, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of perimeter
Adverb
  • The two payment apps together account for nearly 85% of UPI transactions by value and 81% by volume, as per a report by Indian brokerage Ambit Capital.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2026
  • The $177 billion finding represents nearly 10% of federal discretionary spending, the groups said.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of nearly
Noun
  • The new activity was separate from a border infrastructure project in the nearby Big Bend National Park, where the administration has suspended construction in an attempt to reach out to opponents.
    — Rebecca Santana, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026
  • On a map on the agency’s website where the agency posts updates of wall construction across the entire southern border, a photo showed a crane lifting one of the 30-foot-tall steel wall panels into place while construction workers looked on.
    — Rebecca Santana, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of border

Browse Nearby Words

borderlands
borderline
borderlines
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Cite this Entry

“Borderline.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/borderline. Accessed 20 Sep. 2026.

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