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
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
Samantha MacAvoy, Good Housekeeping, 18 Jan. 2023
Four large and filling barbecue pork buns were a borderline preposterous $8.
—oregonlive, 7 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
Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2025
But Jimenez’s movies tend to be overtly self-serious — and some would argue, borderline fascistic — leaving little room for humor.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for borderline
Adjective
These tasty morsels are glazed with a sticky sweet cola- and soy sauce-mixture that packs a borderline obscene amount of garlic (six whole cloves!).
—Samantha MacAvoy, Good Housekeeping, 18 Jan. 2023
Four large and filling barbecue pork buns were a borderline preposterous $8.
—oregonlive, 7 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
Noun
No real effort is made to stop audio bootleggers, and pristine tapes of these shows have emerged, but the video documentation is scattershot and borderline unwatchable since the rule-breakers are often miles from the stage and forced to film at covert angles.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2025
But Jimenez’s movies tend to be overtly self-serious — and some would argue, borderline fascistic — leaving little room for humor.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for borderline
Recent Examples of Synonyms for borderline
Adverb
-
The rule almost failed, however, when six Republicans halted action on the floor by initially voting against the procedural measure.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Sep. 2025
-
That was a big ask and Mac Jones was great… Kyle asked him to throw almost 40 times on the road and there’s no George Kittle.—
Robert Marvi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The attack was widely condemned in the Middle East and beyond as an act that could escalate tensions in a region already on edge.—
Jarrett Renshaw,
USA Today,
13 Sep. 2025
-
On the other hand, edge computing will gain, too.—
John Werner,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
What looks like distant diplomacy or marginal disruption is, in fact, defining competitiveness for the decade ahead.—
Felicia Jackson,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
-
That marginal shift to a more dovish direction shows a meaningful change to the policy thinking among the committee members.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
17 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
Ruching on the sleeves and a darling keyhole neckline are thoughtful touches that’ll help this top stand out from others in your collection, and the deep colors and whimsical pattern are practically destined for your fall wardrobe.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Sep. 2025
-
But practically speaking, the weather in Munich, Germany is not exactly desirable in October—the days are shorter, which translates to less party time and fewer people in attendance.—
Rebecca Deurlein,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
For years, cybersecurity focused on perimeter defenses.—
Max Silber,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The percentage indicates how much of the fire perimeter has been surrounded by a control line.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
The modern smartphone debuted in 2007 -- nearly 20 years ago -- but school cellphone issues were exacerbated over the last few years, according to educators who spoke to ABC News.—
Arthur Jones II,
ABC News,
15 Sep. 2025
-
But that defense honestly looks pretty weak in light of the federal government’s contention that Google has a search monopoly, controlling nearly 90% of the market.—
Andy Meek,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Delhi sees Beijing as its biggest threat, particularly since some border skirmishes that began in 2020.—
Thomas Wright,
The Atlantic,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Richard Gabriel Moritz | Unsplash Many readers will know this coastline—which arcs its way from the French border in the west to Tuscany in the east, via the ancient port city of Genoa—for the five absurdly picturesque villages of the Cinque Terre.—
Spencer Elliott,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
After a fairly quiet opener in Chicago that included a key 2-point conversion reception, Thielen will get to revel in the home crowd.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Boston’s ongoing inability to capitalize on such opportunities ensured fairly uneventful outcomes, though.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Borderline.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/borderline. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share