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
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Recent Examples of borderline
Etiido Uko
march 23, New Atlas, 23 Mar. 2026
Boasting panoramic views of the water, beachfront dining, and a spa so relaxing as to be borderline lobotomizing, the hotel offers a stock photo of a vacation.
—Mattie Kahn, Vogue, 17 Mar. 2026
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
Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
The offense has blurred the lines between inconsistent and borderline unwatchable.
—Kansas City Star, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for borderline
Adjective
Harnessing the strange behavior of particles at the tiniest scales, quantum technologies are enabling applications that are borderline science fiction across various industries.
—Etiido Uko
march 23, New Atlas, 23 Mar. 2026
Boasting panoramic views of the water, beachfront dining, and a spa so relaxing as to be borderline lobotomizing, the hotel offers a stock photo of a vacation.
—Mattie Kahn, Vogue, 17 Mar. 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
Dallas’ power play looks borderline unstoppable, and Minnesota’s penalty kill looks overwhelmed.
—Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
The offense has blurred the lines between inconsistent and borderline unwatchable.
—Kansas City Star, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for borderline
Recent Examples of Synonyms for borderline
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
Adverb
-
First, since no one actually knows the future, guessing, speculating, or simply making things up remains the state of the art for almost everyone involved in describing it.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
-
Over the next seven years, the number of pharmacies contracted with 340B providers, nationwide, grew from 1,300 to almost 20,000.—
Dené K. Dryden,
Twin Cities,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
The outbreak of hantavirus on a cruise ship moored off the western coast of Africa is gripping a world primed by recent painful experience to be on edge for the next Covid-19-like event.—
Helen Branswell,
STAT,
7 May 2026
-
But there’s a significant difference in setting the edge on the college level and doing it in the NFL, where the offensive tackles and tight ends are usually bigger and stronger.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
There was maybe some marginal overreach—or, at least, people weren’t ready to go as far as the Twitter left wanted to go on certain issues.—
Peter Slevin,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Here are the unmarried, who used to be marginal.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
3 May 2026
Adverb
-
The gaming complex, which featured a practically closed outlet mall (one shop remains), a robust lotto store and a host of other gas stations and fast food restaurants, closed Buffalo Bill’s last July.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
-
Back in the early 2000s, a $100+ bottle of aged spirit from the island was practically unheard of.—
Brad Japhe,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
That came two days before the real WHCD on April 25 was thrown into chaos after an armed man charged through a security perimeter outside the ballroom before he was apprehended.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Working with local police, the Secret Service conducted site reviews of the sprawling complex and established a security perimeter to prevent suspicious individuals from approaching the president and other VIP attendees.—
Michael Collins,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
That deadlock prompted an unusually long recess of nearly 90 minutes that was followed by a 6-0 vote in favor of retreating on the bus stops.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
The Golden Knights regained the lead in the best-of-seven second-round series, 2-1, after stealing Game 1 in Vegas and very nearly being shut out in Game 2.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
An unsecured border strains local services and creates real public safety consequences.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
-
The campaign reinforces the brand’s commitment to a new generation of influence, where performance, creativity and style move seamlessly across borders.—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Borderline.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/borderline. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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