moderates 1 of 2

plural of moderate
as in centrists
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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

moderates

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of moderate

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 moderates
Noun
The Republican losses indiscriminately wiped out GOP firebrands, moderates and veteran conservatives nationwide. — Arkansas Online, 5 Nov. 2026 Grose said Lurie won immediate support and high marks among both moderates and progressives by cleaning streets and moving people indoors while also working on longer-term problem-solving. — Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026 That sentiment is changing how Israel is viewed within the party, not just by progressives but also moderates. — Dina Kraft, Christian Science Monitor, 4 Nov. 2026 High-income cohorts rely heavily on investment returns to sustain premium services spending, even as their wage growth moderates. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026 His performance will serve as a test for whether left-leaning candidates can outperform traditional moderates in Republican strongholds. — New York Times, 16 Oct. 2026 Disaster failures can mobilize political moderates A handful of studies, including mine, have found that people who have experienced a disaster often have higher levels of civic engagement. — Dana R. Fisher, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026 Both Gluesenkamp Perez and Braun are considered moderates within their parties, both own small businesses and both reside in rural towns. — Saige Miller, NPR, 11 Oct. 2026 El Sayed’s arguments on healthcare, affordability, and corporate power could resonate with voters, but his progressive foreign-policy positions could complicate his efforts to win over moderates. — Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 9 Oct. 2026
Verb
Swinging to Democrats Rich Thau, president of Engagious, moderates these focus groups. — Ashley Lopez, NPR, 15 Oct. 2026 Some of those people have appeared on the Legends Panel that Rogers moderates annually during the IAAPA Expo at the Orange County Convention Center. — Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Sep. 2026 In Kelowna, wine begins with the water—grapes can’t grow this far north without the lake, which moderates the valley’s climate year-round. — Lisa Kadane, Travel + Leisure, 29 July 2026 So the strategic release temporarily moderates price increases. — Scott L. Montgomery, The Conversation, 23 Mar. 2026 There’s a lot of science behind this practice, but to put it simply, baking in a water bath regulates and moderates the temperature of the baked good, encouraging an even bake. — Josh Miller, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2026 The former is processed slowly and moderates blood sugar. — ABC News, 26 Feb. 2026 The Digital Services Act primarily moderates the content on online platforms to prioritize user safety, while the Digital Markets Act aims to prevent Big Tech companies from abusing their market dominance. — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 28 Dec. 2025 Their answer is a framework that moderates collective impulses while preserving the rights of individuals and minorities. — Veronique De Rugy, Oc Register, 26 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moderates
Noun
  • For progressives, deterrence can be more readily accomplished than centrists believe, both because the United States’ existing military power is sufficient and because China is not an aggressive revisionist power like Russia.
    — THOMAS WRIGHT, Foreign Affairs, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Meanwhile, the centrists are not sure where to situate themselves.
    — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Regular exercise also improves the non-REM phase (deep sleep in which the eyes do not move), and that also decreases with age.
    — Laura Solla, Vogue, 3 Nov. 2026
  • The team’s 40-man roster decreases to 39 with Monday’s moves.
    — LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Suddenly, the smothering sense of a playwright who wants to talk about certain things diminishes.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2026
  • For Republicans, a lot rides on whether Tuesday’s balloting substantially diminishes their ranks.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 30 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Chadchart said despite the heavy rain, flooding should recede once the rain subsides, as city officials are working to drain floodwaters as quickly as possible.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Ideally, those refugees would remain in human care for years or even decades until the mussel invasion subsides.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Still, the ratings declines are a problem for Fox and Fox News, which will need to turn things around at some point.
    — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Rama asks Lakshmana to share the responsibilities of government and accept the position of heir apparent, but Lakshmana declines.
    — Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The water can remain liquid and freeze on contact with the surfaces of an airplane — much like freezing rain falls as liquid and freezes on cars and roads on contact.
    — Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Edmonton visits New Jersey, and the spotlight falls squarely on Leon Draisaitl.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Moderates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moderates. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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