borderlines
Where countries meet
Borderlines is most often encountered as the plural of borderline in its noun sense—the line marking a boundary or the edge between two conditions: The borderlines between genres are often blurry.
In clinical contexts, borderlines sometimes refers informally to people diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, though this usage can be reductive.
Critical boundary point
- vergeBorder or cusp
- cuspPoint of transition
- edgeBoundary or sharpness
- tipping pointThreshold triggering major change
precipice · razor's edge · knife-edge · touch and go · cliff edge · crisis point · breaking point
Formal boundary setting
- perimeterShape's outer edge length
- edgeBoundary or sharpness
- partitionBarrier separating spaces
- limitMaximum allowed extent
confines · fence · barrier · enclosure · outline · frame · rim · fringe
Outermost edge or margin
- peripheralExternal computer add-on
- outlyingDistant from center
- edge casesExtreme boundary conditions
- liminalAt a threshold
penumbra · outskirts · margins · outsider · excluded · othered · marginalized · peripheral vision
Point of beginning
- in-betweenOccupying middle position
- transitionalConnecting two phases
- ambiguousHaving multiple interpretations
- neither-norConjunction excluding two alternatives
blurred · indeterminate · fuzzy · gray area · overlap · interstitial · hybrid · fluid
Lines marking separation
- limitsImposed maximum points
- personal spaceComfort distance around oneself
- defense mechanismsUnconscious strategies avoiding distress
- codependencyExcessive emotional reliance on another
enmeshment · self-protection · healthy boundaries · overstepping · violation · assertiveness · detachment · separation
brink
Critical boundary point
tipping point · precipice · razor's edge · knife-edge · touch and go · cliff edge · crisis point · breaking point
demarcation
Formal boundary setting
limit · confines · fence · barrier · enclosure · outline · frame · rim · fringe · threshold
fringe
Outermost edge or margin
- peripheralExternal computer add-on
- outlyingDistant from center
- edge casesExtreme boundary conditions
liminal · penumbra · outskirts · margins · outsider · excluded · othered · marginalized · peripheral vision
threshold
Point of beginning
- in-betweenOccupying middle position
- transitionalConnecting two phases
- ambiguousHaving multiple interpretations
neither-nor · blurred · indeterminate · fuzzy · gray area · overlap · interstitial · hybrid · fluid · uncertain
boundaries
Lines marking separation
- limitsImposed maximum points
- personal spaceComfort distance around oneself
- defense mechanismsUnconscious strategies avoiding distress
codependency · enmeshment · self-protection · healthy boundaries · overstepping · violation · assertiveness · detachment · separation · individuation
- boundariesboundary, edges, edge, limits, limit
- patientspatient, inpatients, inpatient, outpatients, outpatient
borderlinesinteriors
Inner parts of spaces
centers · cores · heartlands · middles · hearts
borderlinescertainties
Assured truths
prototypes · textbook cases · archetypes · quintessences · extremes
borderlinescertainties
Assured truths
definites · absolutes · extremes · black and whites · poles