MARGINAL Synonyms: 19 Similar and Opposite Words

marginal

adjective

ˈmärj-nəl

Definition of marginal

as in frontier

located at or near a border marginal locations in the open-air market are a bit cheaper

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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 marginal But a facility that generates part of its own electricity on-site reduces marginal grid demand while turning an otherwise passive part of the building into a productive asset. — Zev Laine, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026 That the marginal buyer is now being margined out by the cruel bond market. — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2026 The main concern is damaging wind gusts, but the latest outlook also indicates a marginal possibility of a brief tornado, particularly near the Delaware River Valley and Delmarva. — Bill Kelly, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026 The trade is poised to benefit farmers, particularly women, in developing economies such as India by converting marginal and underutilized land into income-generating assets. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for marginal

Recent Examples of Synonyms for marginal

frontier

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

Definition of frontier

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margin

marginal

marginally

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“Marginal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/marginal. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of marginal

adjective

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