moderate

mod·er·ate | \ ˈmä-d(ə-)rət

How to pronounce moderate (audio)

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Definition of moderate

(Entry 1 of 3)

1a : avoiding extremes of behavior or expression : observing reasonable limits a moderate drinker

b : calm, temperate Though very much in favor of the measure, he expressed himself in moderate language.

2a : tending toward the mean or average amount or dimension a family of moderate income

b : having average or less than average quality : mediocre wrote moderate poetry to the end of his life— Carl Van Doren

3 : not violent, severe, or intense a moderate climate moderate winters cook over moderate heat

4 : professing or characterized by political or social beliefs that are not extreme had left-wing, moderate, and right-wing candidates vying for the nomination

5 : limited in scope or effect His new wealth had only a moderate effect on his way of life.

6 : not expensive : reasonable or low in price a moderate price for a new house

7 of a color : of medium lightness and medium chroma a moderate red

moderate

mod·er·ate | \ ˈmä-də-ˌrāt

How to pronounce moderate (audio)

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moderated; moderating

Definition of moderate (Entry 2 of 3)

transitive verb

1 : to lessen the intensity or extremeness of the sun moderated the chill

2 : to preside over or act as chairman of moderated the board of directors meeting moderated the debate

intransitive verb

1 : to act as a moderator He moderated on a weekly panel show.

2 : to become less violent, severe, or intense the wind began to moderate

moderate

mod·er·ate | \ ˈmä-d(ə-)rət

How to pronounce moderate (audio)

\

Definition of moderate (Entry 3 of 3)

: one who holds moderate views or who belongs to a group favoring a moderate course or program

Other Words from moderate Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about moderate

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Examples of moderate in a Sentence

Adjective Her doctor recommended moderate exercise. There were moderate levels of chemicals in the lake. drinking moderate amounts of coffee Most of these medicines relieve mild to moderate pain. a family of moderate income a book of moderate length The group met with only moderate success. a writer of moderate talent The hotel offers comfortable rooms at moderate prices. Both moderate Democrats and moderate Republicans can agree on this new law. Verb The protesters have been unwilling to moderate their demands. She moderates at our office meetings. She moderates our discussions so that we don't argue or talk at the same time. Noun Moderates from both political parties have agreed on an economic plan. to the community's detriment, moderates were often shouted down at town meetings by the local hotheads

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Some progressive critics argue that the DSCC mostly endorses moderate candidates. — Lissandra Villa, Time, "The Democratic Party Is Making Early Endorsements in Senate Primaries. Grassroots Activists Aren’t Happy," 25 Nov. 2019 Biden, considered a more moderate candidate, insisted Americans don't want their health care taken away. — Kathryn Watson, CBS News, "Klobuchar and Buttigieg stand out in tame night for Democrats," 21 Nov. 2019 The plan goes much further than the public options proposed by more moderate candidates such as former Vice President Joe Biden and South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg. — Washington Post, "Elizabeth Warren Has a Smart Hedge on Medicare for All," 18 Nov. 2019 Democrats who argue that nominating a moderate presidential candidate is the best approach to beat Trump are certain to point to Louisiana’s race as bolstering their case. — Author: Melinda Deslatte, Anchorage Daily News, "Democrats hold on to Louisiana governor’s seat despite Trump," 17 Nov. 2019 Democrats who argue that nominating a moderate presidential candidate is the best approach to beat Trump are certain to point to Louisiana’s race as bolstering their case. — Melinda Deslatte, chicagotribune.com, "Louisiana’s Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards stuns GOP, wins reelection to 2nd term despite efforts from Trump," 16 Nov. 2019 Bloomberg is seen as a more moderate Democratic candidate and Patrick, the Bay State's first African-American governor, is a political ally of Obama's. — Fox News, "Michael Bloomberg's entry, Deval Patrick's consideration of 2020 race an 'SOS' for Democrats, Matt Schlapp says," 12 Nov. 2019 But harsh rhetoric and policy, even from moderate candidates like Biden and Klobuchar, makes clear that there is no best-case scenario for the drug industry in 2020. — Lev Facher, STAT, "More than ever, Democratic presidential hopefuls want to take on pharma. Here’s how they’d do it," 11 Nov. 2019 But strong showings by middle-of-the-road candidates Tuesday may help more moderate candidates make their case to voters. — Ledyard King, USA TODAY, "Election takeaways: What we learned from Kentucky, Virginia, and Mississippi," 6 Nov. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb The event, moderated by Globe columnist Shirley Leung, features Spotlight reporters who worked on the series, as well as transportation officials. — BostonGlobe.com, "The Globe Spotlight Team’s series on our region’s transportation crisis,," 3 Dec. 2019 Braun said in a Q&A moderated by Variety‘s Shirley Halperin. — Helen Murphy, PEOPLE.com, "Scooter Braun Pleads with Taylor Swift to Find 'Resolution' to Feud After Receiving Death Threats," 22 Nov. 2019 The debate will be 9-11 p.m. on MSNBC, moderated by Rachel Maddow, Andrea Mitchell, Kristen Welker and Ashley Parker. — Chris Sikich, Indianapolis Star, "November Democratic debate: Live updates of Pete Buttigieg's performance," 21 Nov. 2019 The debate, moderated by a panel of all women, will start at 9 p.m. ET. — Editors, USA TODAY, "Trump impeachment hearings, Democratic presidential debate, Transgender Day of Remembrance: 5 things to know Wednesday," 20 Nov. 2019 The program, moderated by Warmoth, airs at 12:30 p.m. Sunday on WFTV. — Hal Boedeker, orlandosentinel.com, "I-4 troubles on ‘NewsNight’; Greg Warmoth Holiday Classic preview on WFTV," 20 Nov. 2019 Watch the full interview, moderated by Amanda Vinicky of WTTW-Channel 11 here. — Lisa Donovan, chicagotribune.com, "The Spin: Will Lightfoot notch a win before Illinois General Assembly adjourns?," 14 Nov. 2019 Culinary heavy-hitters Jacques Pépin, Rick Bayless, Danny Meyer, Mary Sue Milliken, Susan Feniger and José Andrés also will speak at a panel moderated by Carla Hall. — Washington Post, "15 things to do in the D.C. area this weekend," 7 Nov. 2019 Group prenatal care is a set of small-group classes, moderated by a doctor or nurse, that pregnant women can opt to take instead of a monthly visit with a doctor. — Anna Claire Vollers | Avollers@al.com, al, "Alabama earns F for babies born too early, report card says," 4 Nov. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The moderates who dislike Mr Sanders’s ideas—like Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar—propose improvements to private health-insurance exchanges created by Obamacare and the creation of a public option for those who want it. — The Economist, "Why Elizabeth Warren remains vague on health care," 26 Sep. 2019 Neighboring Arab states are exerting pressure for a regional plan, and would prefer to work with moderates like Gantz. — Bernard Avishai, The New Yorker, "The Israeli Election Is Next Week, and Unprecedented Alliances Are Moving Against Netanyahu," 10 Sep. 2019 At the same time, King supported the continuation of the Union and resisted talk of secession by radical Southerners, marking him as a political moderate in the Deep South. — Thomas Balcerski, Smithsonian, "The 175-Year History of Speculating About President James Buchanan’s Bachelorhood," 28 Aug. 2019 The offer from Ford’s attorney prompted a growing number of calls from senators – including moderates in both parties whose votes are key to Kavanaugh’s fate – to hold another hearing at which both Ford and Kavanaugh could testify publicly. — Seung-min Kim, The Seattle Times, "Senate committee to hold public hearing with Kavanaugh, accuser after sexual assault allegation," 17 Sep. 2018 Never mind the fact that there is no shortage of moderates in the race, or that past polls put Bloomberg in single digits. — BostonGlobe.com, "Quiet everyone, a billionaire is talking!," 10 Nov. 2019 While most conservatives oppose that hypothetical tax hike, about a third of conservatives back it, as do most of the moderates (58 percent) and liberals (78 percent) who make up the vast majority of Maryland’s electorate. — Emily Guskin, Washington Post, "Post-U. Md. poll: Most Md. residents open to higher taxes to boost school spending," 17 Oct. 2019 And the catalyst for that came from a smaller group of moderates with unique standing: seven freshmen who have national security and military backgrounds who won swing districts that helped Democrats take over the House last year. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Column: Impeachment politics head toward middle ground," 29 Sep. 2019 Like a handful of other white moderates in the race from purple or red states, her message is about electability. — Sarah Burnett, Twin Cities, "As Klobuchar courts middle ground but lags in polls, supporters tell her to ‘rev it up’," 28 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'moderate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Learn More about moderate

Dictionary Entries near moderate

moderate breeze

Statistics for moderate

Last Updated

5 Dec 2019

Cite this Entry

“Moderate.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moderate. Accessed 12 December 2019.

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More Definitions for moderate

moderate

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of moderate

(Entry 1 of 3)

: average in size or amount : neither too much nor too little

: neither very good nor very bad

: not expensive : not too high in price

moderate

verb

English Language Learners Definition of moderate (Entry 2 of 3)

: to make (something) less harsh, strong, or severe or to become less harsh, strong, or severe

: to guide a discussion or direct a meeting that involves a group of people

moderate

noun

English Language Learners Definition of moderate (Entry 3 of 3)

: a person whose political ideas are not extreme : a person who has moderate opinions or is a member of a moderate political group

See the full definition for moderate in the English Language Learners Dictionary

moderate

mod·er·ate | \ ˈmä-də-rət

\

Kids Definition of moderate

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : neither too much nor too little moderate heat

2 : neither very good nor very bad moderate success

3 : not expensive : reasonable moderate rates

4 : not extreme or excessive a moderate point of view a moderate eater

moderate

mod·er·ate | \ ˈmä-də-ˌrāt

\

moderated; moderating

Kids Definition of moderate (Entry 2 of 2)

: to make or become less extreme or severe

moderate

mod·er·ate | \ ˈmäd-(ə-)rət

\

Medical Definition of moderate

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : avoiding extremes of behavior : observing reasonable limits a moderate drinker

2 : not severe in effect or degree moderate alcohol consumption the abdomen was mildly distended with moderate tenderness— Timothy Melester et al moderate developmental disabilities

moderate

transitive verb

mod·er·ate | \ ˈmäd-ə-ˌrāt

\

moderated; moderating

Medical Definition of moderate (Entry 2 of 2)

: to reduce the speed or energy of (neutrons)

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