moderate

1 of 3

adjective

mod·​er·​ate ˈmä-d(ə-)rət 

1

a

: 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.

2

a

: 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

moderateness noun

moderate

2 of 3

verb

mod·​er·​ate ˈmä-də-ˌrāt 

moderated; moderating

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

moderation

ˌmä-də-ˈrā-shən 

noun

moderate

3 of 3

noun

mod·​er·​ate ˈmä-d(ə-)rət 

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

Synonyms

Adjective

• temperate

Verb

• abate
• de-escalate
• decline
• decrease
• die (away or down or out)
• diminish
• drain (away)
• drop (off)
• dwindle
• ease
• ebb
• fall
• fall away
• lessen
• let up
• lower
• pall
• phase down
• ratchet (down)
• rachet (down)
• recede
• relent
• remit
• shrink
• subside
• taper
• taper off
• wane

Noun

• centrist
• middle-of-the-roader

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

Increasing temperatures and mild to moderate winds are anticipated through the weekend. —Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 9 June 2025

The smoke has drifted south and east, creating moderate air quality levels for a large swath of central and southeastern states, according to AirNow.gov. —Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 5 June 2025

Verb

All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff. —The Learning Network, New York Times, 29 May 2025

Upbeat quarterly earnings results from tech giants such Meta Platforms and Microsoft in late April further reignited optimism in the AI trade because the companies showed no signs of moderating their capital expenditure plans. —Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 28 May 2025

Noun

The Medicaid changes have divided Republican lawmakers, with some moderates in competitive districts expressing concerns over the risk to constituents losing benefits, while members of the House Freedom Caucus pushed for deeper cuts. —Dan Gooding gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025

Potential cuts to Medicaid benefits, pullback of renewable energy incentives and measures to reduce the deficit have been among the sticking points between moderates and conservatives. —Filip Timotija, The Hill, 28 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective, Verb, and Noun

Middle English, from Latin moderatus, from past participle of moderare to moderate; akin to Latin modus measure

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1648, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing moderate

• moderate breeze
• moderate gale

Rhymes for moderate

• immoderate

Kids Definition

moderate

1 of 3 adjective

mod·​er·​ate ˈmäd-(ə-)rət 

1

a

: avoiding or lacking extremes (as in behavior or temperature)

a moderate eater

moderate climates

b

: calm entry 3 sense 2, reasonable

moderate demands

2

a

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

a moderate rain

b

: neither very good nor very bad

met with only moderate success

3

: opposed to major social change or extreme political ideas

a moderate candidate

4

: not expensive : reasonable or low in price

moderate rates

moderately adverb

moderateness noun

moderate

2 of 3 verb

mod·​er·​ate ˈmäd-ə-ˌrāt 

moderated; moderating

1

: to make or become less violent, severe, or intense

2

: to guide a discussion or act as chairperson of a meeting

moderate

3 of 3 noun

mod·​er·​ate ˈmäd-(ə-)rət 

: one who holds moderate views or belongs to a moderate group (as in politics)

Medical Definition

moderate

1 of 2 adjective

mod·​er·​ate ˈmäd-(ə-)rət 

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

2 of 2 transitive verb

mod·​er·​ate ˈmäd-ə-ˌrāt 

moderated; moderating

: to reduce the speed or energy of (neutrons)

moderation

ˌmäd-ə-ˈrā-shən 

noun