borderline sexual

USAGE SUMMARY

"borderline sexual" is not a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It could potentially be used as slang in informal writing, but will generally be seen as inappropriate. For example: My friend made a few borderline sexual comments at the party last night, which made me uncomfortable.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

(In retrospect, all this borderline sexual harassment was exactly the reason I named "dental hygienist" as my desired future profession all through elementary school).

The New York Times - Magazine

When a pupil's comment jolts loose a jumble of memories (the teacher's near misses with various women over the years, the borderline sexual abuse he suffered as a kid that may explain this life of near misses), he finds himself completely unmanned.

The New York Times - Books

(Though, it does flirt with a borderline sexual assault at an off-duty party. This does not make the movie any better).

Huffington Post

My friends would send mixed messages, being affectionate one moment only to commit spontaneous acts of physical and borderline sexual violence and emotional terror the next.

Vice

Would the prospect of being whisked miles away to middle-of-nowhere America and subjected to borderline sexual harassment by a stern woman in a trouser suit put you off your next bump?

Vice

A camera person for "The Apprentice" told the Hollywood Reporter that the way Trump treated a female camera operator constituted "borderline sexual misconduct," while others said he often made sexist comments and focused on female contestants' looks.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Of borderline significance was increased sexual activity, measured as number of sexual partners in the last 6 months (OR [95%CI]: 1.82 [0.99, 3.32] increase per sexual partner).

BMC Public Health

When he and Noni were on together things always got a little wild – you could cut the sexual tension (borderline harassment) with a knife!

The Guardian - Opinion

The borderline insignificant difference in sexual functioning between the young breast cancer patients and the young Dutch women at 3 years might be attributed to the large amount of missing data.

British Journal of Cancer

This was only statistically significant for CRT and less interest in sex (P=0.01) and borderline significant for CRT and RT and less sexual activity (both P=0.051).

British Journal of Cancer

Someone is more than likely to help you.]] If sexual harassment becomes physically dangerous or borderlines assault, if you can, call the police.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing sensitive topics, prioritize precision and sensitivity. Consider alternatives like "suggestive", "quasi-sexual", or "having sexual undertones" to avoid misinterpretation and ensure respectful communication.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "borderline sexual" loosely, as it can trivialize serious issues and cause offense. Always ensure the context justifies its use and consider the potential impact on your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "borderline sexual" functions as a descriptor, attempting to qualify the nature of something as being close to sexual in character. However, Ludwig AI notes that it's not a standard phrase in written English. This means its grammatical function is debatable and context-dependent.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "borderline sexual" is flagged by Ludwig AI as not being a standard or correct phrase in formal written English. While it appears in various sources, primarily news and media, its usage should be approached with considerable caution. The intended function is to describe something that approaches or resembles sexual content without being explicitly sexual. Given its potential for misinterpretation and the availability of more precise alternatives like "quasi-sexual" or "having sexual undertones", careful consideration of context and audience is essential. It is also important to be sensitive to those around you when choosing to use the phrase, due to its potentially negative connotations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quasi-sexual

Replaces 'borderline' with 'quasi-', implying something resembling but not fully sexual.

almost sexual

Uses 'almost' instead of 'borderline' to convey a similar meaning of approaching sexuality.

marginally sexual

Substitutes 'borderline' with 'marginally', suggesting a slight degree of sexuality.

hinting at sexuality

Focuses on the suggestive nature rather than a direct sexual characteristic.

tending toward sexual

Rephrases to indicate a direction or inclination towards sexuality.

leaning toward sexual

Similar to 'tending toward', but emphasizes the leaning aspect.

having sexual undertones

Highlights the underlying sexual aspects rather than a direct manifestation.

resembling sexual content

Shifts the focus to resembling or imitating sexual content.

approaching sexual themes

Emphasizes the themes rather than direct acts or characteristics.

suggestive of sexual

Highlights the suggestive nature, implying indirect sexuality.

FAQs

How can I use "borderline sexual" in a sentence appropriately?

While Ludwig AI identifies "borderline sexual" as not a correct and usable phrase in written English, if you choose to use it, ensure the context is very specific and the intent is clear to avoid misinterpretation. However, consider alternatives like "quasi-sexual" or "suggestive".

What are some alternatives to saying "borderline sexual"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases such as "almost sexual", "having sexual undertones", or "suggestive of sexual" to convey a similar meaning while being more precise.

Is "borderline sexual" grammatically correct?

Ludwig AI indicates that "borderline sexual" is not considered a standard or correct phrase in formal written English. It may be used in informal contexts, but more precise language is generally preferred.

What is the difference between "borderline sexual" and "sexual harassment"?

"Sexual harassment" refers to specific unwelcome behavior of a sexual nature, while "borderline sexual" suggests something approaching or resembling sexual content without necessarily constituting harassment. It's crucial to understand the legal and ethical differences between these terms.