moderate

1 of 3

adjective

mod·​er·​ate ˈmä-d(ə-)rət How to pronounce moderate (audio)
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 lifeCarl 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 How to pronounce moderate (audio)
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 noun

moderate

3 of 3

noun

mod·​er·​ate ˈmä-d(ə-)rət How to pronounce moderate (audio)
: one who holds moderate views or who belongs to a group favoring a moderate course or program

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 See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Periods of moderate to heavy rain may continue, even into the pre-dawn, but should be tapering toward sunrise. Jason Samenow, Washington Post, 23 Sep. 2023 Ramaswamy’s plan makes DeSantis look like a raging moderate by comparison. Norman J. Ornstein, The New Republic, 22 Sep. 2023 In the primary’s final stretch, her opponents cast her as the second coming of Mr. Bloomberg, a moderate at a moment that demanded something more radical. Eliza Shapiro, New York Times, 21 Sep. 2023 However, the two sides were unable to reach an agreement on the demands, and gradually the militant element within the Sikh leadership outmaneuvered the more moderate members, leading to polarization between the Indian government and the militants. Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2023 Oral Pain Medications : In some cases, oral pain medications like acetaminophen or oral NSAIDs may be prescribed to manage moderate to severe pain. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 20 Sep. 2023 On average, people who performed moderate to vigorous exercise in the morning were more than a decade older than those who exercised later in the day. Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC News, 19 Sep. 2023 Three sustained minor injuries and one sustained moderate injuries. Carol Robinson | Crobinson@al.com, al, 15 Sep. 2023 Read full article The risk is moderate in Auburn, Charlton, Grafton, Millbury, and Northbridge. Maeve Lawler, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Sep. 2023
Verb
Fox Business and Univision will moderate the two-hour debate, and conservative online video platform Rumble will stream the event. Courtney Subramanian, Los Angeles Times, 22 Sep. 2023 Fox News Media's Stuart Varney and Dana Perino and Univision's Ilia Calderón will moderate the debate. Sarah Beth Hensley, ABC News, 22 Sep. 2023 For the 10th year in a row, it will be presented by The Hollywood Reporter and moderated by yours truly. Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Sep. 2023 Fox Business, along with Univision, will moderate the second debate, and the conservative online video platform Rumble will also stream it. Aaron Navarro, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2023 Later on was a discussion on self-expression– moderated by ESSENCE’s Senior Beauty Editor, Akili King– with Saucy Santana, Evan Mock and Jony Sios. Akili King, Essence, 18 Sep. 2023 Most recently, Baier was entrusted with moderating the primary Republican debate last month alongside Martha MacCallum. Jenny Goldsberry, Washington Examiner, 14 Sep. 2023 During the conversation, moderated by PEOPLE's Senior Editor Breanne Heldman, the cast spoke kindly about White, 46, despite past public disagreements. Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 16 Sep. 2023 All four members of Talking Heads were there, appearing together for the first time in 21 years for a Q&A moderated by Spike Lee. Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2023
Noun
The evolving dynamic between Iowa and New Hampshire underscores a growing tension within a Republican Party that must ultimately appeal to both its hardline conservative base and moderates and independents who play an outsized role in the general election. Steve Peoples, Chicago Tribune, 16 Sep. 2023 Such opportunities look fewer in the coming years, as many of those same moderates are leaving office, and Romney views with distaste a Trump-Biden election rematch. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 15 Sep. 2023 Virginia Republicans must hold the House and flip the Senate to preserve the very thing that launched Youngkin to national prominence: his reputation for energizing MAGA voters without alienating suburban moderates. Maeve Reston, Washington Post, 18 Aug. 2023 Nearly three-quarters identify as moderates or liberals. Nate Cohn, New York Times, 17 Aug. 2023 Rappaport Clark, who headed the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under President Bill Clinton, said there were still enough GOP moderates to help Democrats fend off sweeping changes sought by hardline congressional Republicans. John Flesher, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 Aug. 2023 Rappaport Clark, who headed the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under President Bill Clinton, said there were enough GOP moderates then to help Democrats thwart sweeping changes sought by hardline congressional Republicans. John Flesher, Chicago Tribune, 4 Aug. 2023 Unlike their forebears of 1789, the moderates had a model on which to base their assumptions about how the revolution was supposed to turn out. James Robins, The New Republic, 8 Aug. 2023 But even some Republicans, largely moderates who have rejected Trumpism, note the tenor of the campaign rhetoric has reached new and conspiratorial levels. Jennifer Medina, New York Times, 7 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'moderate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of moderate was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near moderate

Cite this Entry

“Moderate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moderate. Accessed 27 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

moderate

1 of 3 adjective
mod·​er·​ate ˈmäd-(ə-)rət How to pronounce moderate (audio)
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 How to pronounce moderate (audio)
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 How to pronounce moderate (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce moderate (audio)
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 tendernessTimothy Melester et al.
moderate developmental disabilities

moderate

2 of 2 transitive verb
mod·​er·​ate ˈmäd-ə-ˌrāt How to pronounce moderate (audio)
moderated; moderating
: to reduce the speed or energy of (neutrons)
moderation noun

More from Merriam-Webster on moderate

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