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)

\

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 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people with mild to moderate symptoms of covid-19 can be contagious for as many as 10 days. — Democrat-gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, "Remaining presidential debates up in air," 9 Oct. 2020 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, those with mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19 can be contagious for as many as — and should isolate for at least — 10 days. — The Salt Lake Tribune, "Trump vows not to participate in virtual debate with Biden," 8 Oct. 2020 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, those with mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19 can be contagious for as many as — and should isolate for at least — 10 days. — Will Weissert, Anchorage Daily News, "Trump vows not to participate in virtual debate with Biden after new format announced," 8 Oct. 2020 Guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states a person with mild to moderate coronavirus symptoms may be infectious for up to 10 days after the onset of symptoms. — Melissa Quinn, Ben Tracy, CBS News, "White House readies Oval Office for Trump return, just days after COVID diagnosis," 7 Oct. 2020 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, those with mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19 can be contagious for as many as — and should isolate for at least — 10 days. — Zeke Miller, chicagotribune.com, "Trump, back at the White House, compares COVID-19 to the flu: ‘We have learned to live with it’," 6 Oct. 2020 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, those with mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19 can be contagious for as many as — and should isolate for at least — 10 days. — Zeke Miller, Star Tribune, "Trump, still infectious, back at White House — without mask," 6 Oct. 2020 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, those with mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19 can be contagious for as many as — and should isolate for at least — 10 days. — Dallas News, "Trump, still infectious, back at White House — without mask," 5 Oct. 2020 Most people who develop mild to moderate symptoms and who aren’t hospitalized recover on their own, with doctors recommending fever-reducing medications, rest and fluids. — Brianna Abbott And Sarah Krouse, WSJ, "Covid-19 and President Trump: What Scientists Know About Effects on the Body, Treatments," 2 Oct. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Susan Page, the Washington bureau chief for USA Today, will moderate the event. — WSJ, "Vice Presidential Debate Pits Pence Against Harris - Live Coverage," 7 Oct. 2020 Susan Page of USA Today will moderate, and Pence and Harris will be separated by a plexiglass barrier. — Caroline Linton, CBS News, "How to watch the vice presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Mike Pence," 7 Oct. 2020 Susan Page, Washington bureau chief for USA Today, will moderate. — Nick Givas, Fox News, "How to watch the vice presidential debate of Mike Pence vs. Kamala Harris," 6 Oct. 2020 Susan Page, Washington bureau chief for USA Today will moderate. — oregonlive, "‘The Good Lord Bird’; ‘Black-ish’ election special; Vice Presidential debate; ‘The Walking Dead’: TV This Week," 4 Oct. 2020 NBC News White House correspondent Kristen Welker will moderate that debate. — Leada Gore | Lgore@al.com, al, "Trump vs. Biden: When is the second presidential debate? When is the vice-presidential debate?," 1 Oct. 2020 NBC News White House correspondent Kristen Welker will moderate the final head-to-head on Oct. 22 in Nashville. — Bill Keveney, USA TODAY, "Trump-Biden presidential debate ratings fall substantially from 2016's record-setting first debate," 30 Sep. 2020 Fox News' Chris Wallace will moderate, and he's released a list of six general topics: the candidates' records, the Supreme Court, Covid-19, the economy, race and violence, and election integrity. — Aj Willingham, CNN, "5 things to know for September 29: Covid-19, debate, stimulus, Breonna Taylor, fires," 29 Sep. 2020 Fox News' Chris Wallace will moderate on Tuesday, but many networks will transmit and cover the event. — Brian Steinberg, chicagotribune.com, "Advertisers rush to TV’s debates, election coverage," 28 Sep. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Ten years ago, Michael Castle, a former Republican governor, sitting House member and pro-business moderate, was supposed to be a shoo-in for the Senate seat that Mr. Biden gave up to become vice president. — Elizabeth Williamson, New York Times, "In Biden’s Home State, Republican Centrism Gives Way to the Fringe," 4 Oct. 2020 Warner pitched himself as a business and tech-savvy moderate who is well-known to Virginians. — Alan Suderman, Star Tribune, "Virginia: Warner, Gade meet in first debate of Senate race," 23 Sep. 2020 To Hawkins, a business owner and good-government moderate, the criticism was claptrap. — Peter Slevin, The New Yorker, "The North Carolina Republicans Who Are Defecting from Trump," 24 Aug. 2020 Goldwater’s presidential run gave voice to those who yearned for a real conservative, rejecting Dwight Eisenhower as a pusillanimous moderate. — Patrick Iber, The New Republic, "How the GOP Became the Party of Resentment," 11 Aug. 2020 Biden, despite his reputation as a political moderate and an industry ally, has also campaigned on an aggressive drug pricing platform. — Kaitlyn Bartley, STAT, "Pharma is showering Congress with cash, even as drug makers race to fight the coronavirus," 10 Aug. 2020 The first is that the Democratic base–moderates and liberals alike—appears to support some version of Medicare for All, according to a survey Be a Hero commissioned in February. — Time, "For Organizer Ady Barkan, COVID-19 Is Yet Another Reason to Pass Medicare for All," 26 Mar. 2020 But you were backed by Justice Democrats, the national group that has been playing up that distinction between progressives and moderates. — New York Times, "Marie Newman on Her Big Victory: ‘You Have to Be in Alignment With Your District’," 18 Mar. 2020 Biden continues to do well among older voters, moderates and conservatives, African Americans and women, according to an Associated Press survey of voters in Illinois, Florida and Arizona taken in the days leading up to their elections. — Maureen Groppe, USA TODAY, "Voters trust Biden to handle a crisis but wins Tuesday lose spotlight to coronavirus concerns," 18 Mar. 2020

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

13 Oct 2020

Cite this Entry

“Moderate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moderate. Accessed 21 Oct. 2020.

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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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