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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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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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 kind of person who does everything in moderation
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of moderate
Nik Kowsar, Time, 2 Oct. 2025
Since winning the primary in June, Mamdani has taken steps to come toward moderate voters who have been lukewarm in supporting him.
—Amie Parnes, The Hill, 1 Oct. 2025
Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 17 Sep. 2025
Only 4 percent of conservatives and 7 percent of moderates held this view.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 15 Sep. 2025
Clayton Davis, Variety, 29 Sep. 2025
Joan Kennedy of the Business of Fashion moderated the discussion.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 26 Sep. 2025
Karen Brown, NPR, 30 Sep. 2025
The guidelines might need revising, with a shift in focus away from strict prohibition toward balance and moderation.
—New Atlas, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for moderate
Adjective
But their voices were drowned out when Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the relatively moderate leader, took office as President of Iran, a few months after the death of Ayatollah Khomeini, and aggressively championed privatization of the economy—a policy outlook that ignored ecological concerns.
—Nik Kowsar, Time, 2 Oct. 2025
Since winning the primary in June, Mamdani has taken steps to come toward moderate voters who have been lukewarm in supporting him.
—Amie Parnes, The Hill, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
Coleman and other New South moderates still viewed segregation as crucial for cultivating the rising middle-class white communities of cities like Atlanta and Charlotte.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 17 Sep. 2025
Only 4 percent of conservatives and 7 percent of moderates held this view.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
That panel will be moderated by Jazz Tangcay, Variety’s senior artisans editor.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 29 Sep. 2025
Joan Kennedy of the Business of Fashion moderated the discussion.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 26 Sep. 2025
Noun
Meanwhile, the state's Department of Public Health puts its own moderation messages on buses and billboards.
—Karen Brown, NPR, 30 Sep. 2025
The guidelines might need revising, with a shift in focus away from strict prohibition toward balance and moderation.
—New Atlas, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for moderate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moderate
Adjective
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Box tree moths are native to temperate and subtropical climates in Asia and were first reported in Ohio in June 2023.—
Chad Murphy,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
2 Oct. 2025
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Tokyo has always been a major tourist destination, particularly in late March through early April, when billowy cherry blossoms take center stage and temperate weather is the norm.—
Kristin Braswell,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Ahead of this school year, MPS Superintendent Brenda Cassellius moved some central office staff to classroom teaching positions to fill vacant roles.—
Kayla Huynh,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
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Van Hecke has put uncomfortable moments in the two games in September behind him, which preceded the win at Chelsea and provided a sniff of opportunity for Italian Diego Coppola, the right-sided central defender signed from Hellas Verona in the summer.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Residents here have above average educational backgrounds and the higher incomes that accompany them.—
John Wisely,
Freep.com,
3 Oct. 2025
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While the average cruise length is around seven days, short sailings can pack an entire vacation’s worth of fun into a mid-week getaway or long weekend.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Chipotle and adobo give it a gentle heat and depth, while the green chiles add a mild tang.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
5 Oct. 2025
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When to Visit Spring and fall are Capitol Reef’s prime travel times, with milder temperatures and less monsoon risk.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Sesame oil is high in antioxidants that may help decrease the risk of cancer and heart disease, along with reducing joint pain related to arthritis.—
Susan Selasky,
Freep.com,
4 Oct. 2025
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As the storm moves away, this likelihood decreases.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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In the after-hours, the black faille number styled with a silky lime-green tank top was at once restrained and opulent, just great for a night out.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
29 Sep. 2025
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In practice, despite his rhetoric, Israel’s longest serving prime minister’s security policy was widely seen as cautious and relatively restrained, even derided as cowardly by political rivals, who also mocked his inability to make decisive moves.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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According to figures from a housing assessment released this April, the median house value in Fayetteville has grown 275% in the last two decades, and the median gross rent has increased 78%.—
Juan Cordoba,
Arkansas Online,
5 Oct. 2025
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According to Larson’s book, from 2009 to 2014, romance authors’ median income from books increased by 73 percent.—
Rebecca Ackermann,
The Atlantic,
5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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This is a gentle fractional laser treatment that works by creating micro zones of heat in the skin, benefiting the complexion while boosting elasticity.—
Samantha Mims,
Essence,
3 Oct. 2025
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Even its most mean-spirited plotline, in which a married couple assemble a fake theater production to humiliate their ex-neighbor whose noisiness prompted them to move, is presented as more of a gentle exercise in silliness than anything truly vindictive.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Moderate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moderate. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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