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
Katie Campione, Deadline, 21 Jan. 2026
The American Heritage alum was a borderline four-star recruit who had reclassified to start college a year early.
—Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 21 Jan. 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
Aaron Gleeman, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
The use of a memoir as a framing device isn’t a particularly original idea, and the sight of Tommy continuing to tap away at the keyboard while riding on a canal barge is borderline laughable.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for borderline
Adjective
Unfortunately, Martin’s blunt and borderline rude bedside manner rubs the quirky, needy locals the wrong way, including schoolteacher Louisa Gavin (Abigail Spencer).
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 21 Jan. 2026
The American Heritage alum was a borderline four-star recruit who had reclassified to start college a year early.
—Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 21 Jan. 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
Within that, the Twins are among many teams giving catchers vastly more leeway than pitchers to challenge borderline calls, with hitters likely falling somewhere in between.
—Aaron Gleeman, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
The use of a memoir as a framing device isn’t a particularly original idea, and the sight of Tommy continuing to tap away at the keyboard while riding on a canal barge is borderline laughable.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 5 Mar. 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
-
The problem is that such inferences are often wildly speculative and will almost certainly lead to false convictions or arrests.—
Graham Hillard,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Hungary has a population of almost 10 million, a fraction of the bloc's 450 million people.—
LORNE COOK,
Arkansas Online,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Samara Weaving returns with sharper edges, this time facing off against four families in a plot that veers toward global domination.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
20 Mar. 2026
-
The neighborhood/area Hotel June sits at the northern edge of Malibu, just a few minutes from the Pacific Coast Highway, putting the coast and Santa Monica Bay at your doorstep.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
During a year of marginal snowfall in other regions, participants in this year’s Summit were thrilled with the opportunity to ski and snowboard across a mountain with full snow coverage.—
James Edward Mills,
Outside,
15 Mar. 2026
-
For members of Congress, the moment underscored how marginal a role Congress has been able to play in a war that, two weeks in, has spread into more than a dozen neighboring countries, led to the deaths of at least 13 American service members and cost billions of dollars.—
Ana Ceballos
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Her long, loose waves practically hover above her head as if there's no gravity in its atmosphere.—
Marci Robin,
Allure,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Dubai has welcomed residents from practically everywhere on Earth, and its openness stands in defiant contrast with Iran.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Officers located the person on the service road of Loop 12 and SH 114, set up a perimeter and requested specialized units to respond, the statement said.—
Elissa Jorgensen,
Dallas Morning News,
17 Mar. 2026
-
The restoration of the Colosseum’s perimeter was done using compensatory funds from the metro, project officials said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
The spa Aman’s approach to wellness is holistic and advanced, drawing on nearly 40 years of well-being practices across its entire portfolio.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 Mar. 2026
-
From 2023 to 2025, the Israeli government approved nearly seventy settlements.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In March 1978, three years into the Lebanese Civil War, Israel occupied south Lebanon for the first time in an effort to push back Palestinian militants from its northern border.—
Asher Kaufman,
The Conversation,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Schnabel, though a Brooklyn native, grew up in the surfing border town of Brownsville, TX, a place that inspired him as both a painter and a filmmaker.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Borderline.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/borderline. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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