Synonyms of moderates

moderates 1 of 2

noun

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

• centrists
• middle-of-the-roaders
• progressives
• reformers
• compromisers
• accommodationists

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• radicals
• extremists
• conservatives
• revolutionaries
• revolutionists
• liberals
• rightists
• reactionaries
• leftists
• ultraists
• right-wingers
• left-wingers

moderates

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of moderate

as in decreases

to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually

the wind began to moderate as the night wore on

Synonyms & Similar Words

• decreases
• diminishes
• subsides
• declines
• falls
• shrinks
• vanishes
• eases
• ebbs
• dies (away or down or out)
• wanes
• tapers
• drops (off)
• tapers off
• dwindles
• falls away
• drains (away)
• lessens
• weakens
• palls
• lowers
• recedes
• relents
• evaporates
• de-escalates
• remits
• ratchets (down)
• abates
• phases down
• rachets (down)
• lets up
• tails (off)
• slows (down)
• collapses
• melts (away)
• fades (away)
• alleviates
• compresses
• peters (out)
• contracts
• constricts
• slackens
• condenses
• relaxes
• gives out
• fritters (away)
• flags
• caves (in)
• deflates
• sinks

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• increases
• rises
• grows
• intensifies
• builds
• swells
• mushrooms
• escalates
• accumulates
• expands
• appears
• waxes
• mounts
• soars
• picks up
• emerges
• enlarges
• snowballs
• shows up
• balloons
• burgeons
• lengthens
• blows up
• elongates
• distends

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of moderates

Noun

The Michigan Senate race is a must-hold seat for Democrats, and our political director, Averi Harper, traveled to the state where a fierce battle between moderates and progressives is playing out ahead of the primary this Tuesday. — ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026

Democrats face off — progressives versus moderates in a high-stakes test of which vision can lead the party back to power. — NBC news, 2 Aug. 2026

Talarico drew his strongest support from Black and Hispanic voters, moderates, women, college graduates and voters younger than 30. — Natassia Paloma, USA Today, 31 July 2026

There's an active debate in Democratic politics between progressives and moderates about how to build a winning coalition. — Tamara Keith, NPR, 29 July 2026

On the other side of the aisle, Democrats are in the throes of an internal civil war between moderates and progressives, as democratic socialists successfully oust incumbents. — Jill Colvin, Fortune, 23 July 2026

The poll found Vance’s support is strongest among conservatives, while Rubio performs better with moderates and libertarians. — Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 22 July 2026

Independents and moderates alike are furious at the circumstance, given that Cox was the face of the worst defeat Maryland Republicans have suffered in modern history. — Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 18 July 2026

Among Democrats, the primaries will hinge on longstanding divides between progressives and moderates as the party tries to chart the best path forward to November. — Jesse Bedayn, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2026

Verb

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

During the second panel of the Pillars of the Green Transition event on September 24, 2025, Newsweek editor Jeff Young moderates a discussion with HowGood CEO Alex Gillett, Climate Group CEO Helen Clarkson, Elopak CEO Thomas Körmendi and Arva CRO Phil Harris. — Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025