borderline
62
5.3
- adjective
- /ˈbɔrdərˌlaɪn/
:
marginal
- The quality of this product is borderline and may not meet customers' expectations.
- a borderline score
- a borderline case
- borderline statistical significance
I feel like there's a lot of things that are borderline, you know, going against my morals.
- I feel like there's a lot of things that are borderline, you know, going against my morals.
Examples
-
Like it is borderline obsessive at this point.
-
And her therapist said she was borderline anorexic, whatever that means.
-
This is just borderline, like I can see the colors.
-
Well, it's borderline, Cap, but this is the North Sea.
-
These stern looks are kind of borderline angry.
-
Seriously, it's like... borderline epic.
-
I mean, this is borderline reckless.
-
My task was to teach a month-long test-prep course for these borderline students.
Academic text (2011) -
Our department considers homeschooling an unusual, unnecessary and borderline antisocial practice.
-
Her performance was borderline, barely earning the minimum score to pass.
Synonyms
35
4.9
Only just good enough to be acceptable
27
4.4
Not as good as the usual or required quality
15
4.5
Not as good as people expect
11
4.4
Not very good and worth less than similar things
Antonyms
Compounds
- Specialized
A low level of thinking ability just above a disability that affects learning and thinking, often allowing independent living
- Archaic
A mild mental illness that causes symptoms like hearing voices or having strange beliefs
How Acceptable
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Borderline comes from border ('edge' or 'limit') and line ('a line'). A helpful way to remember the adjective meaning is to think of something 'on the border line' between good and bad, so it is just barely acceptable or almost failing.