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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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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as in temperance
an avoidance of extremes in one's actions, beliefs, or habits
the moderateness of their enthusiasm for my proposed outing suggested that they would rather do something else
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of moderate
Lisa Wood Shapiro, Wired News, 18 Aug. 2025
Those who already like spice are eating even more extreme versions of it, but the interest in heat is happening across the board, even at the moderate level, among people who might never touch a Carolina Reaper.
—Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 18 Aug. 2025
Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 2 July 2025
Democrats are torn between courting moderates or doubling down on progressives.
—Averi Harper, ABC News, 26 June 2025
Giana Levy, Variety, 13 Aug. 2025
Following the screening was a panel discussion with industry players on the adoption of biomaterials, moderated by fashion writer and editor Giorgia Feroldi.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for moderate
Adjective
That means green for good air, yellow for moderate, orange for unhealthy for sensitive groups, red for unhealthy, purple for very unhealthy, and maroon for hazardous.
—Lisa Wood Shapiro, Wired News, 18 Aug. 2025
Those who already like spice are eating even more extreme versions of it, but the interest in heat is happening across the board, even at the moderate level, among people who might never touch a Carolina Reaper.
—Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 18 Aug. 2025
Noun
Trump hosted a group of holdouts at the White House on Wednesday morning — conservative fiscal hawks and moderates alike — but his last-minute sales pitch has not yet resulted in enough movement.
—Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 2 July 2025
Democrats are torn between courting moderates or doubling down on progressives.
—Averi Harper, ABC News, 26 June 2025
Verb
Mark Robichaux, a veteran media journalist and editor of Malone’s memoir, will moderate the session.
—Giana Levy, Variety, 13 Aug. 2025
Following the screening was a panel discussion with industry players on the adoption of biomaterials, moderated by fashion writer and editor Giorgia Feroldi.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for moderate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moderate
Adjective
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Those individuals experienced up to an 8 percent additional drop in kidney function each year compared with those living in temperate climates.—
Nora Bradford,
Scientific American,
29 July 2025
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The list includes places like Malta, a five-island nation with terrific beaches, a temperate climate and low crime, and Belize, the only Central American country with English as its official language.—
Danielle Chemtob,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
Adjective
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Derby Fire in Colorado triggers evacuations A wildfire in central Colorado has prompted evacuations as firefighters struggled to gain control of the flames burning along steep cliffsides.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
22 Aug. 2025
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The Fed’s annual gathering of global central bankers and economists kicked off last night in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.—
Jeff Kilburg,
CNBC,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation reported that average home premiums declined by 0.7 percent statewide in the fourth quarter of 2024, the first drop in nearly a decade.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Aug. 2025
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That’s up 3% on average, compared with the start of the 2024 school year.—
Jessica Dickler,
CNBC,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Labor Day weekend forecast Heading into the long holiday weekend, the mild temperatures are expected to continue.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
28 Aug. 2025
-
Most of the country is expected to have a typical or slightly milder winter, with some regions seeing colder temperatures.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Motor vehicle thefts declined 21 percent this month and 27 percent year-to-date, while burglaries decreased 28 percent from July 2024.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Aug. 2025
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The Congressional Budget Office projected that the administration’s tariff policy would decrease the total deficits by up to $4 trillion over the next decade.—
Sydney Topf,
The Washington Examiner,
23 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The interior is a little more restrained, with the two-seat cabin done up mainly in black and exposed carbon fiber, though the six-point harnesses on the racing seats do feature bold yellow accents.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
29 Aug. 2025
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Griffin Dunne, Carol Kane, Liev Schreiber, Bad Bunny, Regina King, Vincent D’Onofrio, and more (plus a murderer’s row of recognizable NYC voices) all add the kind of sparkle that Butler’s more restrained (and often quite compelling) performance can’t quite allow for.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The report draws on state-level estimates of life expectancy at age 65 (around 18 years, on average), average retirement benefits, median net worth and expected retirement expenses.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
29 Aug. 2025
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Financial institutions’ reported costs to provide banking data access ranged from $2 million to $47 million a year, with a median cost of $21 million.—
Jeff Kauflin,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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How to Trim Zucchini Plants Prune with a gentle hand, taking this approach from Sears.—
Amy Brightfield,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Aug. 2025
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The finish is long and silky, with subtle caramel and gentle wood spice notes.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
21 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Moderate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moderate. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.
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