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
Nate Freeman,
Vanity Fair,
8 May 2026
His rhetoric and borderline audacious claims telegraphed that failure to make progress on the bridge was more than a mere infrastructure hindrance.
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Torrey Snow,
Baltimore Sun,
29 Apr. 2026
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
25 June 2026
After one borderline pitch, Jensen — playing catcher Thursday — initiated an ABS challenge.
—
Kansas City Star,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for borderline
Adjective
The mood in Venice is still borderline ecstatic, full of gossip, parties, and people chatting about art in their respective cities, trading business cards, discovering new talent, eating, drinking, and stumbling around, running into old friends.
—
Nate Freeman,
Vanity Fair,
8 May 2026
His rhetoric and borderline audacious claims telegraphed that failure to make progress on the bridge was more than a mere infrastructure hindrance.
—
Torrey Snow,
Baltimore Sun,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
The song’s spacious production lets its piercing saxophone riffs dissipate into silence, only for borderline obnoxious horns to swirl them back into rhythm.
—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
25 June 2026
After one borderline pitch, Jensen — playing catcher Thursday — initiated an ABS challenge.
—
Kansas City Star,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for borderline
Recent Examples of Synonyms for borderline
Adjective
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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.
Adverb
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Roberts doffed his cap in gratitude for a spirited postgame ovation from the fans here, almost all of them Dodgers fans.
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An index tracking semiconductor stocks has surged almost 88% since March, its best quarterly performance on record, according to FactSet data that goes back until to 1994.
Noun
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The Detroit pizza features the style’s signature crown of crispy cheese around the edges, and a blanket of brick cheese.
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Both the scalloped edges and adorable blue gingham print made this a top pick for me.
Adjective
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The area is under a marginal risk (Level 1 of 5) of severe weather.
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To be sure, the effect is uneven as some very cold places may see modest benefits from marginal warming, at least up to a point.
Adverb
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And unlike conventional transmissions with a finite number of gears, an eCVT can move through a practically infinite number of gear ratios over a specified range based on your preferred cadence.
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Loose dresses are a lifesaver when humidity strikes, and this midi style was practically made for tropical temperatures.
Noun
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Catalan Fire Service head of operations Eduard Martinez said the blaze had a perimeter of 25 miles and firefighters may not be able to bring it under control on Sunday, EFE said.
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The Waseca County Honor Guard carried the flag out of the fairgrounds hall, and with about 35 volunteers around its perimeter, the red, white and blue was fully unfurled in all its glory for the first time in decades.
Adverb
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The score might not suggest dominance, but Colombia controlled the game from the outset and held possession for nearly two-thirds of the match.
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As night falls, the doors open and the nearly 5,000 attendees walk in.
Noun
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The bears seen in large urban centers and agricultural areas, like the southeastern corners of the state and parts of the western border, are generally transient, as those areas don't have enough woods to create a good habitat.
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Today, they're celebrated not just for their thrift, but for proving that small cars can have enormous personality – a trait Honda is now hoping will resonate far beyond Japan's borders.
Cite this Entry
“Borderline.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/borderline. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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