as in marginal
located at or near a border
a frontier town with a reputation for vice and lawlessness
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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Recent Examples of frontier
Charlie Campbell, Time, 11 Dec. 2025
Tharin Pillay, Time, 27 Feb. 2026
In the nineteenth century, travel to remote frontiers beyond the reach of telegraph had insulated Britain’s men on the spot from London’s authority, conceding them the freedom to seize new territory.
—Alfred McCoy, Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for 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
Lay users chatting with chatbots are having an entirely different experience compared to people at the frontier commanding fleets.
—Tharin Pillay, Time, 27 Feb. 2026
In the nineteenth century, travel to remote frontiers beyond the reach of telegraph had insulated Britain’s men on the spot from London’s authority, conceding them the freedom to seize new territory.
—Alfred McCoy, Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for frontier
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frontier
Adjective
-
Venture funding has grown from roughly $100 million in 2015 to more than $3 billion in 2025 — impressive in isolation, but marginal in the global context.—
Maurizio Caio,
semafor.com,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Fazio said that three states with large numbers of residents leaving recently were Hawaii, California and New York, adding that those states also have among the highest marginal income tax rates.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Pillar story alleges that Dudley spotted the bishop making late-night border crossings into Mexico, parking in a lot reserved for customers of a brothel, then boarding a shuttle exclusive to customers of the brothel.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Feb. 2026
-
The small town is about 50 miles south of El Paso, along the Mexican border.—
Pete Muntean,
CNN Money,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Surrounding the lake are canyons, hills, plateaus and ridges, some offering spectacular views of the surrounding countryside.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Feb. 2026
-
To be closer to her, their father uproots the family from the city to the countryside.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The United States is also insisting that any nuclear deal between the two countries remain permanent instead of including a future ending date, or sunset clause.—
Michael Collins,
USA Today,
28 Feb. 2026
-
In response, the Iranian regime has launched an unprecedented wave of strikes across the Middle East, with blasts heard in several countries that host US military bases, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Saturated in the heatwave colors of Australia’s scorching Red Center, with its searing blue skies and bright orange sands, Wolfram makes the grim, lawless backwater of Wake in Fright seem positively cosmopolitan by comparison.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
17 Feb. 2026
-
In the hockey world, the borough would go from backwater to mecca.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Expertise was often distributed between cities and their hinterlands, with cities functioning as hubs in cross-continental product networks.—
R. Alexander Bentley,
The Conversation,
26 Feb. 2026
-
News of trouble in the Florida hinterlands could take nearly a month to reach the Oval Office.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The six clients were a group of women who were longtime friends and, according to a statement issued by their families, experienced backcountry skiers.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
28 Feb. 2026
-
This is a bag with enough backcountry gear and lifesaving materials for the person to be self-sufficient if the mission stretches overnight.—
Jayme Moye,
Outside,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Meanwhile, bush peas grow in a compact bush pattern.—
Heather Bien,
Southern Living,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Complete pruning of bush-type roses; prune climbers when the spring blooms fade.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Frontier.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frontier. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
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