Definition of immoderatenext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word immoderate different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of immoderate are excessive, exorbitant, extravagant, extreme, and inordinate. While all these words mean "going beyond a normal limit," immoderate implies lack of desirable or necessary restraint.

immoderate spending

When can excessive be used instead of immoderate?

In some situations, the words excessive and immoderate are roughly equivalent. However, excessive implies an amount or degree too great to be reasonable or acceptable.

excessive punishment

When is exorbitant a more appropriate choice than immoderate?

The synonyms exorbitant and immoderate are sometimes interchangeable, but exorbitant implies a departure from accepted standards regarding amount or degree.

exorbitant prices

Where would extravagant be a reasonable alternative to immoderate?

While the synonyms extravagant and immoderate are close in meaning, extravagant implies an indifference to restraints imposed by truth, prudence, or good taste.

extravagant claims for the product

When would extreme be a good substitute for immoderate?

The meanings of extreme and immoderate largely overlap; however, extreme may imply an approach to the farthest limit possible or conceivable but commonly means only to a notably high degree.

extreme shyness

In what contexts can inordinate take the place of immoderate?

The words inordinate and immoderate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, inordinate implies an exceeding of the limits dictated by reason or good judgment.

inordinate pride

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of immoderate Adult death is always strangely humiliating but this was something more, conceptually distressing, theoretically immoderate, elaborately unkind. — Joy Williams, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025 And drinking any type of alcohol in any type of immoderate way can bring more than a shot of risks. — Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024 That would have put the celebration on Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, a day traditionally marked by a big pancake supper and other immoderate and extravagant indulgences on the night before fasting and sobriety take over for Lent. — Ruth Graham, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2024 The meat is juicy, salty and a little stringy, with a thick, craggy crust laced with an immoderate amount of black pepper. — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2024 See All Example Sentences for immoderate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for immoderate
Adjective
  • The lack of transparency in the incentives’ application process, alongside excessive bureaucracy and uncertainty, remain issues, although Japanese industry folk have similar complaints about applying for export support.
    — Gavin J Blair, HollywoodReporter, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The Wolf of Wall Street, the Leonardo DiCaprio and Margot Robbie movie about Belfort’s wild and excessive life as a New York stockbroker and boiler room boss, was released through Paramount Pictures.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 2 Nov. 2026
Adjective
  • Imagine being able to test how a jet engine will perform under extreme temperatures, identify when a factory machine might fail, or see how a building will respond to changing weather conditions without physically experimenting on any of them.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2026
  • The most extreme is the outdoor pool with Lucerne’s lake water (untreated), a truly icy experience undertaken naked.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Nov. 2026
Adjective
  • Prosecutors said Sherman, from September 2015 through May 2025, stole nearly $18 million from her employer to pay off her extravagant credit card expenses.
    — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Our children were far too excited to sleep, so joined us for extravagant hot chocolates instead.
    — Fergus Scholes, TheWeek, 3 Nov. 2026
Adjective
  • Chipmaking hubs Taiwan and South Korea saw steep declines, the former suffering record losses and the latter halting trading after an 8% wipeout.
    — semafor.com, semafor.com, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The Public’s LuEsther Theater isn’t helping, with its steep raked seating so clearly set off from the deep rectangle of the stage.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2026
Adjective
  • Hats off to The Daily Show for name-dropping a specific insane cheesecake varietal.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026
  • But looking for some sort of explanation or path for your favorite team to follow is insane.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Immoderate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/immoderate. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster