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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of borderline
Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 17 Feb. 2026
The arthouse references might sound arcane, but this is Chen’s most accessible and borderline commercial effort to date.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Feb. 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
Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 21 Mar. 2026
Risk can be classified as low, borderline, intermediate, high, or very high, based on factors including current cholesterol levels, diabetes, smoking, weight, and family history.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for borderline
Adjective
For those of us of a certain age, the news of LaBeouf popping up at a random bar in a random city and wreaking havoc is borderline old-fashioned.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 17 Feb. 2026
The arthouse references might sound arcane, but this is Chen’s most accessible and borderline commercial effort to date.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Feb. 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
That was no different on Friday night, and the numbers were borderline unbelievable.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 21 Mar. 2026
Risk can be classified as low, borderline, intermediate, high, or very high, based on factors including current cholesterol levels, diabetes, smoking, weight, and family history.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 17 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
-
Another, says Lentsch, was when the Wyoming state senate almost passed SJ2, a bill seeking to transfer all federal land in Wyoming to the state for the purpose of selling it off.—
Natalie Krebs,
Outdoor Life,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Nacua became known for his infectious enthusiasm and ability to catch almost anything Rams MVP quarterback Matthew Stafford threw his way.—
Los Angeles Times staff,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Rainwater tends to accumulate at the road edges.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Rainwater tends to gather along the road edges.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
There's not a lot of organization to the rain Tuesday and Wednesday, but tomorrow there is a marginal risk north of I-80, meaning a 1 out of 5 risks for strong to severe storms to develop.—
Mary Ours,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
-
These are not marginal differences.—
Daniel L Gordon,
Daily News,
29 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
But practically speaking, ICE is already funded.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Ad blockers and VPNs are practically a requirement for using the internet now.—
StackCommerce Team,
PC Magazine,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Wolves will miss his shot creation on offense nearly as much as his dogged perimeter defense.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
30 Mar. 2026
-
No sightings were reported all day, and the team began to fear Chesney had wandered beyond the search perimeter.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
With the Baby Boom cohort now ranging from 62 to 80 years old, the share of Americans aged 65 or older has nearly doubled from 10% to 18%, the center said.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Tune Into the Rhythm of Filipino Festivals After a nearly three-year hiatus due to the pandemic, festivals across the Philippines are once again taking the stage, filling up the events calendar with vivacious celebrations of local culture and tradition.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
While these were heard mainly in towns close to the Lebanese border in the north, sirens were also heard in Jerusalem and central Israel.—
Kevin Collier,
NBC news,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Early voting started in Georgia's 14th congressional district — which spans from the outskirts of metro Atlanta northwest to the southern border of Tennessee — on March 30 and continues to April 2 before election day next week.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Borderline.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/borderline. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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