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- pronunciation:
- mar
jih
nl
- features:
- Word Combinations (adjective)
part of speech: |
adjective |
definition 1: |
of, concerning, near, or forming a margin.
The marginal land of the property runs along a stream.- synonyms:
- borderline, peripheral
- similar words:
- liminal
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definition 2: |
written in a margin or margins.
The professor's marginal comments were difficult to decipher. |
definition 3: |
barely above a minimum standard of quality.
The marginal farm land allowed the families a meager existence.Her piano skills are marginal, but her singing voice is quite extraordinary.- synonyms:
- minimal, so-so
- antonyms:
- excellent, formidable, superior, unsurpassed
- similar words:
- adequate, fifty-fifty, indifferent, mediocre, passable, questionable, tolerable
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definition 4: |
of goods sold or a business, barely profitable; covering costs slightly, if at all.
The hotel business is just marginal here in the winter months, but business picks up in the spring.- synonyms:
- adequate, minimal
- similar words:
- meager, modest, scanty, sufficient
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related words: |
bare, borderline, minimum, perfunctory, side |
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derivations: |
marginally (adv.), marginality (n.) |
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