frontier 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of frontiernext
as in marginal
located at or near a border a frontier town with a reputation for vice and lawlessness

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

frontier

2 of 2

noun

ˌfrən-ˈtir How to pronounce frontier (audio)
1
as in border
a region along the dividing line between two countries the Apaches were once feared on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico frontier

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2
as in countryside
a rural region that forms the edge of the settled or developed part of a country Alaska has been called America's last frontier

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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 frontier
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
Noun
The next competitive frontier is not which enterprise has the most data or the most capable AI. — Carsten Polenz, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2026 Increasingly, software is becoming the accelerator that helps frontier science become the product. — Cyrus Wadia, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for frontier
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frontier
  1. marginal
  2. border
  3. countryside
  4. country
  5. backwater
  6. hinterland
  7. backcountry
  8. bush
Adjective
  • Morton said the academic gains from voucher programs have been marginal at best.
    — Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Sometimes, even marginal annual gains can transform the entire production process and result in big savings.
    — Adrian Stelmach, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of marginal
Noun
  • Four firefighters were killed and a fifth was injured after they were overcome by a fast-moving wildfire in Colorado, near the Utah border, in June.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2026
  • The 27-member EU bloc has a visa-free travel area known as Schengen that allows citizens of most EU countries to travel easily across borders for work and pleasure.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of border
Noun
  • What to do nearby Beyond the estate, there’s all the beauty of the Chianti countryside to explore.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Bearing the brunt of our new climate reality, of course, is the simmering countryside, desert dry and ready to ignite from the first mechanical spark, hot muffler, or flying ember.
    — John Vaillant, Time, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of countryside
Noun
  • Marina was adamant to the federal agents that her former husband could never have given secrets to another country.
    — Isabelle Chapman, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Our country has used science to make society safer and healthier over time, improving lives, making jobs safer, and preventing early deaths.
    — Dr. Marianne Parshley, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of country
Noun
  • Fully restored to its original glory, the mansion is located on the banks of the backwaters of Kerala, and is only accessible by boat from the mainland.
    — Rumit Mehta, Travel + Leisure, 22 June 2026
  • The movie goes from this weird, seedy love motel to the industrial backwaters, and these long walks and talks down empty streets.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 1 June 2026
Definition of backwater
Noun
  • In the blizzardy hinterlands, boredom is driving two soldiers mad, and a stranger’s arrival only underscores the futility of the war’s propaganda.
    — Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Putin began a neo-imperialist land grab, seizing territory around Russia’s hinterlands.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 July 2026
Definition of hinterland
Noun
  • The blades fold inward, flat alongside the main generator housing, minimizing the risk of losing small components in the backcountry.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The large avalanche struck in the late morning as four guides and 11 clients were skiing out to return to civilization at the end of a three-day backcountry-skiing trip to Frog Lake Huts.
    — Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of backcountry
Noun
  • Images from the scene appeared to show the white Kia overturned in a bush at the base of a sign for the Fountain Hills residential community.
    — Renee Anderson, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Flanked by hydrangea bushes, this charming Cape Cod-style cottage is the perfect spot for a bachelorette weekend or girls’ trip.
    — Kelsey Mulvey, Vogue, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of bush

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fronted
frontier
frontiers
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Cite this Entry

“Frontier.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frontier. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on frontier

Nglish: Translation of frontier for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about frontier

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