She is on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
Source: tatoeba (2183)
Verge
/vɜːd͡ʒ/
Synonyms for "verge" (260 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (52)
Strong matches (78)
Noun(20 words)
Adjective(1 words)
delicate edging
Related words (130)
limblimbuslimitlimitationslimitslineliplistliverylook tomacemantlemarchmarchesmargemarginmarkingmedalmetesmetes and bounds
Show 67 more words
mortarboardmoveneighborold school tieoutlineoutlinesoutskirtspaleparametersperimeterperipherypinpointpoint topurflepurlragged edgeready toredound toregaliarimringroseschool ringsellselvageservesetset offset towardshamrockshoreshow a tendencysidesidelinesigillographyskirtskirtsskull and crossbonessphragisticsstaffstand bysteerstretchsurroundswastikaswingsymboltartantendtend totend to gothistlethresholdtietouchtrenchtrendtrimturnuniformverge onverge uponvergeswandwarpwork toward
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: about to, abut, abut, abut on, adjoin.
- Sentence evidence is available for verge, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, opengloss, derived_reverse, wiktionary, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "verge".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "verge"
Keep "verge" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "verge" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "verge", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "verge" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
11 entriesMore specific
3 entriesCollocations
10 entriescliff vergeon the vergeroad vergeverge intoverge of collapseverge of disasterverge of warverge onverge towardverges on
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
1 entriesTranslations
39 translations across 15 languages.
Bulgarian
2 entries- край noun (edge or border)
- предел noun (edge or border)
Chinese Mandarin
3 entries- 權杖 /权杖 noun (rod or staff of office)
- 邊 /边 noun (edge or border)
- 邊緣 /边缘 noun (edge or border)
Czech
2 entries- okraj noun (edge or border)
- pokraj noun (edge or border)
Dutch
2 entries- roede noun (rod or staff of office)
- staf noun (rod or staff of office)
Finnish
4 entries- parras noun (edge or border)
- raja noun (edge or border)
- reuna noun (edge or border)
- valtikka noun (rod or staff of office)
Galician
1 entries- beira noun (edge or border)
Georgian
4 entries- ზღვარი noun (edge or border)
- კიდე noun (edge or border)
- მიჯნა noun (edge or border)
- ნაპირი noun (edge or border)
German
1 entries- Rand noun (edge or border)
Indonesian
2 entries- ambang noun (rod or staff of office)
- ambang noun (edge or border)
Irish
2 entries- broinne noun (edge or border)
- ciumhais noun (edge or border)
Portuguese
2 entries- beira noun (edge or border)
- beirada noun (edge or border)
Russian
4 entries- грани́ца noun (edge or border)
- грань noun (edge or border)
- жезл noun (rod or staff of office)
- край noun (edge or border)
Scottish Gaelic
2 entries- iomall noun (edge or border)
- oir noun (edge or border)
Spanish
2 entries- arcén noun (edge or border)
- borde noun (edge or border)
Turkish
1 entries- kenar noun (edge or border)
Sample sentences
19 total sentences available.
The company is on the verge of bankruptcy.
Source: tatoeba (49081)
The house was on the verge of collapse.
Source: tatoeba (49338)
The Siberian tiger is on the verge of extinction.
Source: tatoeba (53384)
Showing 4 of 19 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "verge"?
Closest matches include about to, abut, abut, abut on, adjoin.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "verge"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.