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
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of moderate
Karen Brooks Harper, Dallas Morning News, 10 Jan. 2026
On the other side of the continuum are people who are considered to have a clinical alcohol use disorder, which can be mild, moderate or severe.
—Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026
Ayumi Teraoka, Foreign Affairs, 19 Dec. 2025
The holidays provide Johnson with a brief window to try to persuade moderates to abandon the effort.
—Joey Cappelletti, Fortune, 18 Dec. 2025
Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
Works & Process executive director Duke Dang will moderate a discussion about the work.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for moderate
Adjective
Still, going for moderate, default Republicans who haven’t broken with Abbott yet may pay off because new Democratic voters aren’t pouring into Texas, said Democratic strategist Matt Angle.
—Karen Brooks Harper, Dallas Morning News, 10 Jan. 2026
On the other side of the continuum are people who are considered to have a clinical alcohol use disorder, which can be mild, moderate or severe.
—Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026
Noun
The Lee administration has therefore appointed moderates to key diplomatic posts, such as national security adviser, and Lee can further empower them while pushing back against more hard-line forces by demonstrating the tangible benefits of cooperation with Tokyo.
—Ayumi Teraoka, Foreign Affairs, 19 Dec. 2025
The holidays provide Johnson with a brief window to try to persuade moderates to abandon the effort.
—Joey Cappelletti, Fortune, 18 Dec. 2025
Verb
Layoffs remain exceptionally low and inflation has moderated.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
Works & Process executive director Duke Dang will moderate a discussion about the work.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for moderate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moderate
Adjective
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The good thing is, most plants native to temperate parts of the globe evolved ways to deal with the annual seasonal cycle.—
Paul Cappiello,
Louisville Courier Journal,
9 Jan. 2026
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Heating the indoor air in winter means the air will retain more moisture (it won't be dispersed to help humidify plants or your sinuses), but lowering the thermostat to a temperate 68 degrees F can help increase relative humidity in your home, and this can help your houseplants stay vibrant.—
Peg Aloi,
The Spruce,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The central legal question was whether the board of governors or the club’s voting members holds the ultimate power to authorize major capital projects and debt.—
Chase Jordan
January 13,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Jan. 2026
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The partial restoration came as security forces maintained a heavy presence across central Tehran, according to residents, with riot police, Revolutionary Guard units and plainclothes officers deployed at key locations as authorities sought to contain unrest.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Olathe’s trajectory mirrors what’s happening across Johnson County — which saw more than 90% of the homes go up in value in 2024, with the average home prices sitting at $508,000 and average sale price at $557,000.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
10 Jan. 2026
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In fact, a 2023 study found that child prodigies tend to earn more and have more career success than the average person.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Rain looks most likely at first, with temperatures mild ahead of the system, before colder air works in Wednesday night.—
Andrew Kozak,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
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Just don’t place fragile items and objects that could be damaged by extreme heat or cold in your trunk unless your car is staying put and the weather is mild.—
Lauren Landers,
The Spruce,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In the House, four centrist Republicans broke with GOP leadership and joined forces with Democrats to force a vote that could come as soon as January on a three-year extension of the tax credits.—
Ali Swenson,
Fortune,
2 Jan. 2026
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In the House, four centrist Republicans broke with GOP leadership and joined forces with Democrats to force a vote that could come as soon as January on a three-year extension of the tax credits.—
Ali Swenson,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Newsom claims homelessness decline Newsom during his final State of the State address Thursday claimed the state’s homeless population decreased last year.—
Theresa Clift,
Sacbee.com,
10 Jan. 2026
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Meanwhile, the number of job openings have decreased nearly 10% on the year to 729,000 in the September to November period from a year ago, the ONS found.—
Sawdah Bhaimiya,
CNBC,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Flanagan stars as Betty, a proud but emotionally restrained mother struggling with her daughter’s return, while Crowley plays Áine’s father Seamus.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
2 Jan. 2026
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The year 2025 saw high levels of deadly violence around the world, as conflicts grew less restrained, with civilians increasingly victims of attacks by governments and non-state actors alike, according to monitoring data.—
Susannah George,
Washington Post,
1 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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According to the Realtors group, the statewide median home price will climb to a record of $905,000 in 2026.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
12 Jan. 2026
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The upper limit of affordable housing in Florida typically has rent that does not exceed 30% of the income of someone making 120% of the area’s median income.—
Catherine Odom,
Miami Herald,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Moderate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moderate. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.
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