Borderline — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective adverb noun /ˈbȯr-dər-ˌlīn/ bor·der·line

Meaning & Definition of Borderline

Borderline (adjective)

  1. being in an intermediate position or state, not fully classifiable as one thing or its opposite
  2. not quite up to, typical of, or as severe as what is usual, standard, or expected
  3. characterized by psychological instability in several areas (such as interpersonal relations, behavior, and identity) but only with brief or no psychotic episodes

Borderline (adverb)

  1. almost, nearly

Borderline (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. located at or near a border

    "a borderline region that is claimed by both countries"

    similar: frontier, marginal
    related: outermost, outmost, exterior, external, outer, outside, outward
    opposite: interior
    near: inner, inside, internal, inward, inmost, innermost, central, mid, middle

Borderline (adverb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. very close to but not completely

    "your answer was borderline rude, so I would advise you to be more diplomatic in the future"

    similar: about, all but, almost, fair (chiefly British), fairly, feckly (chiefly Scottish), more or less, most, much, near, nearly, next to, nigh, practically, somewhere, virtually, well-nigh, as good as, just about, pretty much, within an inch of
    related: appreciably, by and large, chiefly, largely, mainly, mostly, kind of, partially, partly, somewhat
    near: absolutely, altogether, completely, entirely, fully, plain, plumb (chiefly dialect), quite, thoroughly, totally, utterly, well, wholly, barely, hardly, scarcely

Borderline (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

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

    "the actual borderline separating the two properties is now being disputed"

    similar: border, bound, boundary, brim, circumference, compass, confines, edge, edging, end, frame, fringe, hem, margin, perimeter, periphery, rim, skirt, skirting, verge
    related: ambit, brink, crest, curb, cusp, lip, ceiling, maximum, demarcation, extent, limitation, measure, mere, restriction, termination, borderland, frontier, march, outskirts, pale, selvage, lap, shore
    near: center, core, heart, inner, inside, interior, middle, within

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Borderline

The most common words with a similar meaning to Borderline:

Chiefly British: fair
Chiefly Scottish: feckly
frontier, marginal, about, all but, almost, fairly, more or less, most, much, near, nearly, next to, nigh, practically, somewhere, virtually, well-nigh, as good as, just about, pretty much, within an inch of, border, bound, boundary, brim, circumference, compass, confines, edge, edging, end, frame, fringe, hem, margin, perimeter, periphery, rim, skirt, skirting

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Borderline

Words with the opposite meaning of Borderline:

interior

Related Words for Borderline

outermost, outmost, exterior, external, outer, outside, outward, appreciably, by and large, chiefly, largely, mainly, mostly, kind of, partially, partly, somewhat, ambit, brink, crest, curb, cusp, lip, ceiling, maximum, demarcation, extent, limitation, measure, mere

Near Antonyms of Borderline

inner, inside, internal, inward, inmost, innermost, central, mid, middle, absolutely, altogether, completely, entirely, fully, plain, plumb, quite, thoroughly, totally, utterly, well, wholly, barely, hardly, scarcely, center, core, heart, within

Word Forms of Borderline

Derived words: borderline (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Borderline

First known use: 1907

Words & Phrases Containing Borderline

borderline personality disorder

Frequently Asked Questions about Borderline

What does "Borderline" mean?

"Borderline" means being in an intermediate position or state, not fully classifiable as one thing or its opposite. As an an adjective, an adverb and a noun, it is defined as: being in an intermediate position or state, not fully classifiable as one thing or its opposite. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Borderline"?

Other words for "Borderline" include frontier, marginal, about, all but, almost, fair, fairly and feckly. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Borderline" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Borderline"?

There are 82 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Borderline". Common alternatives include frontier, marginal, about, all but, almost, fair, fairly, feckly, more or less and most.

What is the opposite of "Borderline"?

Antonyms of "Borderline" include interior. Near antonyms include inner, inside, internal and inward.

How do you use "Borderline" in a sentence?

Examples of "Borderline" in a sentence: "a borderline region that is claimed by both countries"; "your answer was borderline rude, so I would advise you to be more diplomatic in the future"; "the actual borderline separating the two properties is now being disputed".

Is "Borderline" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Borderline" can be used as an adjective, an adverb and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Borderline"?

"Borderline" is pronounced /ˈbȯr-dər-ˌlīn/ and divided into syllables as bor·der·line.

What is the origin of the word "Borderline"?

First known use: 1907.