1
as in temperate
avoiding extremes in behavior or expression
he was only a moderate drinker, generally stopping after a couple of glasses of wine
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Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in central
avoiding major social change or extreme political ideas
the principal's moderate position on cell phones is that students can use them at school but only for emergencies
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3
as in average
being about midway between extremes of amount or size
a moderate snowfall was forecast for the region
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4
as in mild
marked by temperatures that are neither too high nor too low
a city that is celebrated for its moderate climate
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as in centrist
a person who holds moderate views
to the community's detriment, moderates were often shouted down at town meetings by the local hotheads
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as in to decrease
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually
the wind began to moderate as the night wore on
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of moderate
Bryant Stamford, Louisville Courier Journal, 30 Oct. 2025
Conversely, 82% of liberal Democrats and 73% of moderate and conservative Democrats oppose it strongly.
—Emily Guskin, ABC News, 30 Oct. 2025
Calmatters, Mercury News, 14 Oct. 2025
Some moderates including Republicans Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Democrat Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire have been trying — so far unsuccessfully — to negotiate an end to the standoff and unlock a broader deal on health care and the federal budget.
—Steven T. Dennis, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2025
Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 29 Oct. 2025
The panel was moderated by Hanqing, founder of AI Talk.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for moderate
Adjective
Although higher intensity vigorous exercise for 75 minutes can lead to gains in aerobic fitness, 150 minutes of moderate exercise may not.
—Bryant Stamford, Louisville Courier Journal, 30 Oct. 2025
Conversely, 82% of liberal Democrats and 73% of moderate and conservative Democrats oppose it strongly.
—Emily Guskin, ABC News, 30 Oct. 2025
Noun
That has forced some Democrats, even moderates who have historically backed Israel, to condemn the country and pull away from pro-Israel donors.
—Calmatters, Mercury News, 14 Oct. 2025
Some moderates including Republicans Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Democrat Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire have been trying — so far unsuccessfully — to negotiate an end to the standoff and unlock a broader deal on health care and the federal budget.
—Steven T. Dennis, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2025
Verb
Rent hikes, by CPI math, are moderated by a growing number of empty units.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 29 Oct. 2025
The panel was moderated by Hanqing, founder of AI Talk.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for moderate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moderate
Adjective
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Yes, holiday cactus thrives outside during summer in temperate conditions.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Oct. 2025
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Winter is also a good time to plant bare-root trees and hardy shrubs in temperate climates.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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More than 20 televisions will show football and sports with live music, pool tables and a central horseshoe bar.—
Andy Humbles,
Nashville Tennessean,
27 Oct. 2025
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Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, and took around 250 hostages, and their release has been a central tenet of the first phase of the peace agreement.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Sunderland have conceded the third-most shots in the division, but the average quality of those efforts has been low.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
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Combined with the loss of enhanced subsidies, some people could pay 114%, on average, more in premiums, Cox said.—
Berkeley Lovelace Jr,
NBC news,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Finish the job by wiping down the fan blades with a damp cloth and a little mild soap.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
26 Oct. 2025
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Medical experts say mild discrepancies between CGMs and fingerstick tests are normal, but large ones can be dangerous.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Prominent centrists such as Bloomberg and Suozzi previously supported Cuomo in his shocking loss in the June Democratic primary to Mamdani, who reconfigured the race to focus on affordability.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
30 Oct. 2025
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Cuomo, a centrist, has cast himself as the only candidate who can beat Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist and state assemblymember who shocked the political establishment by soundly defeating the former governor in the June primary.—
Anthony Izaguirre,
Fortune,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
When nighttime temperatures consistently stay below 70°F in the South, the grass growth rate significantly decreases.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
31 Oct. 2025
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Symptoms include pain, swelling, stiffness, and decreased joint mobility.—
Jakob Roze,
Health,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The same restrained values of democracy have always marked the White House—a stately house, but not an imperial one.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
25 Oct. 2025
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Cooper—director of pictures like Crazy Heart, Hostiles, and most recently The Pale Blue Eye—makes sure the proceedings are always restrained and respectful.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Still, the median Milwaukee home cost less than the national median price of $435,545.—
Francesca Pica,
jsonline.com,
27 Oct. 2025
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And for first-time buyers who have struggled to break into the market, new opportunities may be emerging in the condominium sector, where the median price has declined 7% from the previous year.—
Collyn Wainwright,
Nashville Tennessean,
26 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Moderate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moderate. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.
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