Synonyms of moderate

moderate 1 of 3

adjective

ˈmä-d(ə-)rət 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• temperate
• restrained
• typical
• medium
• controlled
• reasonable
• regular
• sensible
• modest
• deliberate
• normal
• inhibited
• calculated
• usual
• average
• curbed
• levelheaded
• rational
• measured
• disciplined
• mediocre
• self-denying
• self-disciplined
• self-controlled
• ordinary
• so-so
• run-of-the-mine
• routine
• run-of-the-mill

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• extreme
• excessive
• radical
• unreasonable
• inordinate
• irrational
• immoderate
• intemperate
• extremist
• uncontrolled
• rabid
• unbridled
• unrestrained
• unchecked
• unreasoning
• fanatic

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• central
• traditional
• neutral
• middle-of-the-road
• centrist
• reasonable
• orthodox
• conventional
• rational
• sensible
• nonrevolutionary
• levelheaded

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• radical
• excessive
• ultra
• revolutionary
• conservative
• extremist
• progressive
• liberal
• reactionary
• rightist
• leftist
• violent
• inflammatory
• subversive
• revolutionist
• provocative
• fanatic
• exciting
• provoking
• incendiary
• rabid
• dissenting
• inciting
• agitating
• fomenting
• instigating
• rabble-rousing

3

as in average

being about midway between extremes of amount or size

a moderate snowfall was forecast for the region

Synonyms & Similar Words

• average
• median
• modest
• intermediate
• medium
• reasonable
• middle
• typical
• middling
• mean
• normal
• midsize
• adequate
• standard
• usual
• regular
• conventional
• tolerable
• popular
• common
• routine
• commonplace
• passable

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• extreme
• excessive
• unusual
• rare
• special
• exceptional
• strange
• uncommon
• unique
• private
• individual
• distinctive
• peculiar
• idiosyncratic

4

as in mild

marked by temperatures that are neither too high nor too low

a city that is celebrated for its moderate climate

Synonyms & Similar Words

• temperate
• mild
• gentle
• sunny
• soft
• genial
• equable
• balmy
• clement
• peaceful
• pleasant
• delightful
• clear
• cloudless
• calm
• tranquil
• fair
• placid
• sunshiny
• rainless
• fine
• halcyon

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• severe
• harsh
• intemperate
• rough
• inclement
• breezy
• stormy
• gusty
• windy
• blustery
• gray
• rainy
• misty
• dismal
• cloudy
• gloomy
• hazy
• blustering
• overcast
• bleak
• foggy
• bitter
• raw
• squally
• dirty
• nasty
• foul
• showery
• sunless

moderate

2 of 3

noun

ˈmä-d(ə-)rət 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• centrist
• middle-of-the-roader
• progressive
• reformer
• compromiser
• accommodationist

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• extremist
• revolutionary
• conservative
• revolutionist
• liberal
• rightist
• radical
• reactionary
• leftist
• ultraist
• right-winger
• left-winger

moderate

3 of 3

verb

ˈmä-də-ˌrāt 

as in to decrease

to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually

the wind began to moderate as the night wore on

Synonyms & Similar Words

• decrease
• diminish
• subside
• decline
• ease
• fall
• shrink
• vanish
• lower
• ebb
• taper
• die (away or down or out)
• fall away
• taper off
• lessen
• drain (away)
• recede
• drop (off)
• dwindle
• weaken
• pall
• relent
• wane
• abate
• remit
• ratchet (down)
• phase down
• rachet (down)
• let up
• evaporate
• slow (down)
• de-escalate
• tail (off)
• alleviate
• collapse
• fade (away)
• compress
• melt (away)
• relax
• slacken
• constrict
• peter (out)
• condense
• contract
• give out
• cave (in)
• fritter (away)
• flag
• sink
• deflate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• increase
• rise
• build
• grow
• swell
• intensify
• expand
• accumulate
• mount
• escalate
• enlarge
• pick up
• appear
• soar
• emerge
• wax
• show up
• snowball
• mushroom
• balloon
• burgeon
• blow up
• elongate
• lengthen
• distend

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of moderate

Adjective

Adults with mild to moderate hearing loss can now buy some devices over the counter, which has opened the door for people who may not have wanted a prescription or multiple office visits. —Matthew Kayser, Sacbee.com, 18 May 2026

There's a moderate heat risk this week for urban areas in South Florida, and temperatures should trend higher approaching the weekend. —Sarah Perkel, USA Today, 18 May 2026

Noun

Keyser is a 39-year-old auditor and former Marine who unseated Winder in a contentious 2024 primary that favored further-right candidates over moderates, the Idaho Statesman previously reported. —Rose Evans may 6, Idaho Statesman, 6 May 2026

Critics of the idea ranged from moderates to conservatives and from rank-and-file lawmakers to party leaders. —Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 28 Apr. 2026

Verb

Dara Collins and Donna Kassman are South Florida residents who moderate the Modern Mahjong Facebook page. —Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 14 May 2026

On February 18, 2020, Markey and Kennedy participated in a debate on WGBH-TV (Boston public radio) that was moderated by hosts Jim Braude and Margery Eagan. —Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 14 May 2026