BORDERS Synonyms: 79 Similar and Opposite Words

borders 1 of 2

noun

plural of border

as in edges

the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something a rug with a fancily embroidered border

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in frontiers

a region along the dividing line between two countries people who live on an international border get used to carrying a passport

Synonyms & Similar Words

borders

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of border

as in bounds

to serve as a border for that velvet bordered the sleeves on this shirt, until it fell off

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of borders

Noun

Traditionally, assessments of a country’s ability to shape events beyond its borders have focused on its military strength, economic size, and cultural reach. — Mark Jia, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2026 Following a phone call and an altercation in a club, the two have to embark on a journey to the other side of their respective borders. — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026 The prospect of allowing Africans to move freely across the continent’s borders is a common source of economic anxiety, a survey by Afrobarometer found. — Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 7 Aug. 2026 Defining borders and creating uncontrolled competition between countries isn’t helpful in facing and solving the issues presented by frontier AI. — Shlomo Kramer, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2026 Some of them complained about grocery deliveries that were directed out of the country, or of matching with users of dating apps across borders. — Shayla Love, New Yorker, 6 Aug. 2026 Climate resilience, humanitarian crises, migration, digital governance, food security, public health and sustainable development all require cooperation beyond national borders. — Ekramy El Zaghat, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026 The mythmaking rebellion of Tekena, first of her name, for the sake of a coward’s love was as recognizable to her descendants as their need to cross borders, both ethnic and geographic, in search of a happiness that wasn’t promised. — Literary Hub, 6 Aug. 2026 Cervantes also authored Senate Bill 1360, which would require counties to provide election material in languages where there are at least 5,000 voting age citizens within its borders. — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 5 Aug. 2026

Verb

Kimana, which borders Amboseli, is one of Kenya’s most productive agricultural areas, growing tomatoes, onions and French beans that are transported to markets to the capital, Nairobi. — ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026 The strait borders Iran, which has fired on ships attempting to transit the passage. — Paul Wiseman, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2026 Iran and Oman, which also borders the strait, have been holding talks to try to resolve the trade route’s future. — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 3 Aug. 2026 Ceuta has belonged to Spain since the 16th century and is one of few African territories the nation still possesses, also including Melilla, another coastal city that borders Morocco. — Conor Murray, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 The animals roamed near the Amboseli National Park, which borders a farming and livestock area around 140 miles south of the capital Nairobi, according to the Associated Press. — Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026 York County borders Mecklenburg, Union, Gaston and Cleveland counties in North Carolina. — Eva Flowe july 29, Charlotte Observer, 29 July 2026 The ranch borders six miles of Bridger-Teton National Forest on three sides, providing direct access to millions of acres of public wilderness. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 27 July 2026 The New York Times has reported that Brin’s primarily residence is a home on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe, which also borders California. — Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for borders

Noun

The edges of your lawn and garden provide the perfect habitat for these plants, while fences and retaining walls can give support to growing poison ivy vines.

— Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Aug. 2026
Driver and Teller move through Queens and Brooklyn, surrounded by muted colors and hard edges of Gray’s New York, while the promise of easy money gives way to danger.

— Sophie Miller, Rolling Stone, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of edges

Noun

District 8 is also home to some of the top growth frontiers as the suburbs give way to farmland that’s a source of new land for developers.

— Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 3 Aug. 2026
And regenerative medicine, cellular therapies, protein engineering, and synthetic biology while opening entirely new therapeutic frontiers raise the conundrum of who will pay for them.

— Steve Brozak, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026

Definition of frontiers

Verb

Over a century later, the Himalayan blackberry has spread far beyond the modest backyard bounds its importers envisioned, opting instead to take over indiscriminately and displace the native trailing blackberry (Rubus ursinus) in the process.

— The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 25 June 2026
Oprah Winfrey bounds into view in a white dress.

— Jack Lang, New York Times, 9 June 2026

Definition of bounds

Verb

The company is expected to begin with pro forma EBIT margins around 25%, supported by especially strong profitability in electronic solutions and control systems.

— Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
The Dodgers are still trying to figure out what margins, if any, there are for an edge.

— Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 3 June 2026

Definition of margins

Noun

Homeschool enrichment programs must now comply with a number of new rules, and those that operate outside a district's boundaries need formal approval from the state.

— Olivia Young, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
For the observer hovering above one of these boundaries, Kuridze says, the view would depend on the time of arrival.

— Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of boundaries

Verb

Gus Birney, Shulman’s real-life daughter, brings an ineffable lightness to Sarah Nell, the joyfulness and sweetness of the portrayal all the more wondrous before of all the darkness that surrounds it.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2026
And yet, there’s a halo of chaos that surrounds Rhaenyra — an electric current of turmoil that’s too constant not to be her fault.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of surrounds

Noun

But a recent study found that people with larger waist circumferences who ate one avocado daily for six months did not see improvements in blood sugar, insulin levels, or insulin resistance.

— Abby Norman, Verywell Health, 30 June 2026
Its main beams are 27 inches long, with over 5-inch base circumferences.

— Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 30 Oct. 2025