Synonyms of edge

edge 1 of 2

noun

ˈej 

1

as in bite

a harsh or sharp quality

the teacher's voice had a sarcastic edge as she welcomed the tardy student to class

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bite
• bitterness
• acidity
• roughness
• sharpness
• spice
• severity
• harshness
• poignancy
• punch
• poignance
• acerbity
• asperity
• acridity
• pungency
• acuteness
• tartness
• acidness
• tang
• acrimony
• acrimoniousness
• acridness
• severeness
• keenness
• ginger
• shrillness
• virulence
• pointedness
• maliciousness
• raucousness
• vitriol
• thorniness
• cattiness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• softness
• gentleness
• mildness
• kindliness

2

as in perimeter

the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something

the design along the edge of the plate is badly worn

Synonyms & Similar Words

• perimeter
• edging
• border
• boundary
• circumference
• confines
• verge
• rim
• margin
• end
• periphery
• fringe
• outskirts
• brim
• frame
• skirt
• hem
• bound
• skirting
• cusp
• compass
• borderline
• brink
• lip
• extent
• shore
• curb
• crest
• maximum
• ceiling
• limitation
• frontier
• demarcation
• mere
• termination
• lap
• restriction
• measure
• march
• ambit
• selvage
• borderland
• pale

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• center
• heart
• core
• within
• middle
• interior
• inside
• inner

3

as in advantage

the more favorable condition or position in a competition

my big feet give me something of an edge in swimming

Synonyms & Similar Words

• advantage
• odds
• opportunity
• jump
• vantage
• margin
• high ground
• upper hand
• bulge
• stead
• pull
• inside track
• whip hand
• better
• drop
• start
• coign of vantage
• privilege
• lead
• superiority
• dominance
• catbird seat
• allowance
• ascendency
• benefit
• ascendancy
• transcendence
• head start
• leg up
• foothold
• mastery
• supremacy
• precedence
• predominance
• prerogative
• transcendency
• preference
• seniority
• command
• windfall
• break
• godsend
• manna
• felicity
• boon
• blessing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• disadvantage
• strike
• liability
• penalty
• minus
• handicap
• drawback
• detriment
• imbalance
• inequality
• disparity
• disability
• interference
• failing
• bar
• stranglehold
• impairment
• let
• obstacle
• obstruction
• stop
• catch
• shortcoming
• unevenness
• impediment
• rub
• check
• hurdle
• embarrassment
• hitch
• hindrance
• setback
• crimp
• shackle
• lurch
• clog
• trammel
• manacle

4

as in efficacy

the power to produce a desired result

the utter lack of enforcement provisions totally blunts the edge of the law

Synonyms & Similar Words

• efficacy
• effectiveness
• efficaciousness
• efficiency
• ability
• productiveness
• effectualness
• capability
• efficacity
• strength
• capacity
• potency
• puissance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• inefficiency
• ineffectiveness
• inability
• incompetence
• ineffectuality
• ineffectualness
• inadequacy
• incompetency
• inadequateness

5

as in brink

an interval of time just before the onset of something

the nation's economy was on the edge of collapse when the Federal Reserve took exceptionally bold action

Synonyms & Similar Words

• brink
• verge
• threshold
• cusp
• point
• nick

edge

2 of 2

verb

1

as in to sharpen

to make sharp or sharper

if you edge the tip of that stick, it should be a fine skewer for roasting marshmallows

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sharpen
• grind
• stone
• hone
• whet
• strop
• file

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dull
• blunt
• round
• smooth
• polish
• gloss
• buff
• burnish

2

as in to border

to serve as a border for

pavement edging the flower bed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• border
• margin
• rim
• fringe
• bound
• surround
• frame
• skirt
• circle
• encircle
• trim
• loop
• hem
• trace
• round
• define
• outline
• wall
• ring
• curb
• demarcate
• limit
• enclose
• control
• silhouette
• restrict
• sketch
• inclose
• delineate
• circumscribe
• restrain
• confine
• check
• environ
• girth
• compass
• girdle

Examples of edge in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Those with high edges or multiple compartments typically weigh more than those with one or two sections. —Bestreviews, The Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2024

Spray adhesive along the long top and bottom edges of the waxed paper and place four wood sticks in a line, ¼-inch apart, along both edges. —Sydney Wasserman, Architectural Digest, 4 Sep. 2024

Verb

Apple shares edged lower Tuesday as investors took in some downbeat commentary from analysts on the company’s product launch event. —Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2024

The growth edged Apple out of the top five into sixth place — and, despite the price cuts, the iPhone-maker saw a decline of 3.1% year-over-year, the data shows. —Britney Nguyen, Quartz, 9 Sep. 2024

Phrases Containing edge

• cutting edge
• edge in
• leading edge
• on edge
• set one's teeth on edge