moderate

adjective mod·er·ate \ ˈmä-d(ə-)rət \

|Updated on: 20 Jul 2018

Examples: moderate in a Sentence

Definition of moderate

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

—

moderately

adverb

—

moderateness

noun

See moderate defined for English-language learners

See moderate defined for kids

Examples of moderate in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of moderate from the Web

The wildfire danger has dropped into the low-to-moderate range, according to an Anchorage Fire Department statement Wednesday.

— zaz hollander, Anchorage Daily News, "Anchorage burn ban eased amid cool and rainy weather," 12 July 2018
One glaring exception to the outpouring of Republican praise from Miami-Dade County’s members of Congress, who are more moderate than many of their colleagues.

— anthony man, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Florida leaders divided over Trump nominee Brett Kavanaugh for Supreme Court," 10 July 2018
Unsurprisingly, all the names on the list are more right-leaning, but some are more moderate compared to others who are more conservative.

— lily herman, Teen Vogue, "What Donald Trump’s Supreme Court Nomination Could Mean for Abortion Access," 10 July 2018
Some liberals back him while more moderate Democrats talk about reforming ICE.

— bill glauber, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Mark Pocan push to abolish ICE reverberates in Wisconsin U.S. Senate race," 9 July 2018
And a few of second-phase houses will be built for moderate income buyers.

— john gallagher, Detroit Free Press, "Eco Homes adds single-family homes in Detroit's Midtown," 29 June 2018
Kennedy won over far-right conservatives at the state GOP convention earlier in the year, but he was expected to struggle among more moderate Republican voters — including many Trump critics — around the state.

— meg kinnard, The Seattle Times, "Trump-backed McMaster wins South Carolina governor primary," 26 June 2018
The current forecast is for the river to rise back to moderate flood stage by Wednesday evening, according to the National Weather Service.

— linda girardi, Aurora Beacon-News, "Rain keeps Fox River towns on alert," 26 June 2018
Dealing with a scenario of moderate climate change, modeling shows that enough uplift could even theoretically prevent a WAIS collapse.

— david grossman, Popular Mechanics, "The Bedrock Below West Antarctica Is Rising Shockingly Fast," 25 June 2018

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.

Origin and Etymology of moderate

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

moderate Synonyms

moderate

verb mod·er·ate \ ˈmä-də-ˌrāt \

Definition of moderate

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

play \ˌmä-də-ˈrā-shən\ noun

See moderate defined for English-language learners

Examples of moderate in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of moderate from the Web

But her credibility as a moderating force, a gracious presence swathed in silk and lace, has been significantly undermined by her own hand.

— robin givhan, Houston Chronicle, "Nothing else Melania Trump wears will ever matter again," 13 July 2018
Poem Jam: The monthly poetry reading series will be moderated by San Francisco poet laureate Kim Shuck.

— brandon yu, SFChronicle.com, "In Moshfegh’s latest, sleep is a refuge from existential angst," 10 July 2018
The panel will be moderated by series guest star Tig Notaro, who will appear as chief engineer Reno.

— phillip molnar, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Comic-Con 2018: Here's your Friday schedule," 6 July 2018
However, her voting record dovetails with the president's agenda more than 79 percent of the time, and despite a few instances of defiance, she's shown little interest in being a moderating force.

— luke darby, GQ, "Susan Collins Has a Chance to Show the American People What She’s Really Made Of," 2 July 2018
The meeting at John Marshall Law School will be moderated by WGN radio host John Williams.

— chicago tribune staff, chicagotribune.com, "Morning Spin: Rauner praises Trump for executive order halting family separations, calls for immigration reform," 22 June 2018
Each candidate flashed their platform, and shared some nuances from the field during the event, held at the Miramar Cultural Center and moderated by PBS NewsHour’s Yamiche Alcindor and WLRN Public Media’s Luis Hernandez.

— david smiley, miamiherald, "Democrats play nice, display platforms in second gubernatorial debate in three nights," 11 June 2018
This was demonstrated by the panel discussion moderated by Tess Chaney, relocation director for Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Realty, who also served on the RDC Spring Planning Committee.

— michelle sandlin, Houston Chronicle, "On the Move: Houston leadership plays key role in Relocation Directors Council Event," 10 June 2018
The evening also includes a discussion moderated by Yee Htun of Harvard Law School's International Human Rights Clinic.

— peter keough, BostonGlobe.com, "What happens when nationalism goes awry," 7 June 2018

Origin and Etymology of moderate

see ¹moderate

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

moderate Synonyms

Synonyms

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) also rachet (down) , recede, relent, remit, shrink, subside, taper, taper off, wane;

Antonyms

accumulate, balloon, build, burgeon (also bourgeon), enlarge, escalate, expand, grow, increase, intensify, mount, mushroom, pick up, rise, snowball, soar, swell, wax;

Near Antonyms

appear, emerge, show up;

blow up, distend, elongate, lengthen;

evaporate, fade (away), fritter (away), give out, melt (away), peter (out), tail (off), vanish;

slacken, slow (down);

alleviate, relax;

flag, sink, weaken;

cave (in), collapse, deflate;

moderate

noun mod·er·ate \ ˈmä-d(ə-)rət \

Definition of moderate

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

See moderate defined for English-language learners

Examples of moderate in a Sentence

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 of moderate from the Web

In France, immigrants from the Middle East and Africa have settled throughout Paris and have drawn the ire of the far-right and even some moderates over the city's changing makeup.

— jesse j. holland and russell contreras, chicagotribune.com, "Trump draws fierce criticism for saying immigration is 'changing the culture' of Europe for worse," 14 July 2018
Already 13 Senate Republicans, ranging from moderates such as Susan Collins (Maine) to solid conservatives such as Tim Scott (S.C.), urged Trump in a letter to send them the treaty amendment.

— dino grandoni, Washington Post, "The Energy 202: Republicans can't agree on this climate deal brokered by Obama," 12 July 2018
Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, both GOP moderates.

— nicole gaudiano, USA TODAY, "Red-state Democrats could put party in bind over Brett Kavanaugh," 12 July 2018
If Democrats can make enough noise to sway moderates like Sens.

— li zhou, Vox, "Schumer faces the most important Supreme Court fight for Democrats in a generation," 6 July 2018
In short, the planet’s dramatic orbit moderates the swing between seasons in the north but exaggerates it in the south.

— shannon hall, New York Times, "Never Mind the Summer Heat: Earth Is at Its Greatest Distance From the Sun," 5 July 2018
Pressure Republican moderates to block Trump’s nominee.

— jeet heer, The New Republic, "Can Trump’s Supreme Court takeover be stopped?," 28 June 2018
Republicans were closely divided, with conservative Republicans agreeing by 47% to 40% and moderates disagreeing by 57% to 33%.

— david lauter, latimes.com, "Despite Trump's crackdown, Americans are more sympathetic to immigrants, poll shows," 28 June 2018
Overall compared to 2010 when Republicans gained 63 House seats this group of voters is now younger, less white and more likely to call themselves political moderates or liberal.

— NBC News, "Meet the Press - June 17, 2018," 17 June 2018

Origin and Etymology of moderate

see ¹moderate

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1648

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

moderate Synonyms

Synonyms

centrist, middle-of-the-roader;

Antonyms

extremist, radical, revolutionary, revolutionist, ultraist;

Near Antonyms

conservative, reactionary, rightist, right-winger;

leftist, left-winger, liberal;

Related Words

progressive, reformer;

accommodationist, compromiser;

MODERATE Defined for English Language Learners

moderate

adjective

Definition of moderate for English Language Learners

: 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

Definition of moderate for English Language Learners

: 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

Definition of moderate for English Language Learners

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

MODERATE Defined for Kids

moderate

adjective mod·er·ate \ ˈmä-də-rət \

Definition of moderate for Students

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

—

moderately

adverb

moderate

verb mod·er·ate \ ˈmä-də-ˌrāt \

Definition of moderate for Students

moderated; moderating

: to make or become less extreme or severe

Medical Dictionary

moderate

adjective mod·er·ate \ ˈmäd-(ə-)rət \

medical Definition of moderate

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 \

medical Definition of moderate

moderated; moderating

: to reduce the speed or energy of (neutrons)

—

moderation

play \ˌmäd-ə-ˈrā-shən\ noun

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moderately

moderateness

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moderate

Definition of moderate

moderation

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moderate

Definition of moderate

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MODERATE Defined for English Language Learners

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moderate

Definition of moderate for English Language Learners

moderate

Definition of moderate for English Language Learners

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moderate

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moderately

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moderate

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moderate

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moderation

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