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
Andy Hoglund, EW.com, 30 Oct. 2022
Springs’ slider is a viable third offering, a borderline average pitch, but when your top two offerings are doing work, average is just fine.
—Tony Blengino, Forbes, 27 Jan. 2023
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
See All Example Sentences for borderline
Adjective
After some highly amusing, borderline classic sketches, this does not quite hold up as much.
—Andy Hoglund, EW.com, 30 Oct. 2022
Springs’ slider is a viable third offering, a borderline average pitch, but when your top two offerings are doing work, average is just fine.
—Tony Blengino, Forbes, 27 Jan. 2023
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
See All Example Sentences for borderline
Recent Examples of Synonyms for borderline
Adverb
-
Revenue for Goto’s financial services unit almost doubled last year, reaching 3.7 trillion Indonesian rupiah ($230 million).—
Lionel Lim,
Fortune,
22 June 2025
-
Statistics can only go so far in quantifying the value of a player like Bergvall, for whom almost everything about playing in midfield at Premier League level comes naturally.—
Elias Burke,
New York Times,
21 June 2025
Noun
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The group assembled in Romare Bearden Park shortly after 6 p.m., just barely outnumbering a dozen city police officers stationed in clusters around the area’s edge.—
Lila Hempel-Edgers,
Charlotte Observer,
27 June 2025
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To get started, consider the following first steps: • Deploy in geographically diverse edge and core regions to avoid over-concentration.—
Mark Mahle,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
Adjective
-
Through careful site selection, canopy management, and refined winemaking techniques, growers have learned how to coax more complexity and ripeness from this variety, even in England’s marginal climate.—
Paul Caputo,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
-
The over-all impression is of a band simultaneously subcultural, taken up in marginal scenes, and supercultural, soundtracking life on both sides of the Iron Curtain.—
Mitch Therieau,
New Yorker,
18 June 2025
Adverb
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But now, with not just musicians but the wider world worried about recession (or worse?), these Depression anthems felt practically ripe on the vine.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
22 June 2025
-
In one study, drivers of expensive cars practically aimed at pedestrians.—
Pat Beall,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 June 2025
Noun
-
Those are 3-point shooting, second-unit scoring and perimeter defense.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
27 June 2025
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See live video from the area: Fire containment This is what 65% containment means Containment indicates what percentage of the fire perimeter has been surrounded by a control line.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
26 June 2025
Adverb
-
The Dodgers, with their nearly $400 million roster, may soon need to pull a kid out of the stands, Henry Rowengartner-style, and put him on the mound.—
and Alex Kirshner,
New York Times,
21 June 2025
-
Sadly, that night will feature a bright sky bleached by a nearly full moon.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
Noun
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The current threat represents the parasite's northward march through Central America over two years, reaching Mexico in November 2024 and spreading to within 700 miles of the U.S. border.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 July 2025
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Around the world, countries are confronting the issue of tech companies earning massive profits from users within their borders, without establishing a legal or taxable presence.—
Andrew Leahey,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
Adverb
-
Judging by the trailer, the film should follow the book fairly closely.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
30 June 2025
-
The Bulls will want to negotiate this number down — which is more easily accomplished by compromising on a longer contract — but their commitment to the guard has been fairly clear in the build-up to these negotiations.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
30 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Borderline.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/borderline. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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