mod·er·ate
ˈmä-d(ə-)rət 
1
2
a
: tending toward the mean or average amount or dimension
a family of moderate income
b
: having average or less than average quality : mediocre
wrote moderate poetry to the end of his life—
Carl Van Doren
Carl Van Doren3
: not violent, severe, or intense
a moderate climate
moderate winters
cook over moderate heat
4
: professing or characterized by political or social beliefs that are not extreme
had left-wing, moderate, and right-wing candidates vying for the nomination
5
: limited in scope or effect
His new wealth had only a moderate effect on his way of life.
6
: not expensive : reasonable or low in price
a moderate price for a new house
7
of a color
: of medium lightness and medium chroma
a moderate red
moderateness
noun
mod·er·ate
ˈmä-də-ˌrāt
moderated; moderating
1
: to lessen the intensity or extremeness of
the sun moderated the chill
2
: to preside over or act as chairman of
moderated the board of directors meeting
moderated the debate
1
: to act as a moderator
He moderated on a weekly panel show.
2
: to become less violent, severe, or intense
the wind began to moderate
mod·er·ate
ˈmä-d(ə-)rət
: one who holds moderate views or who belongs to a group favoring a moderate course or program
Examples of moderate in a Sentence
Adjective
Her doctor recommended moderate exercise.
There were moderate levels of chemicals in the lake.
drinking moderate amounts of coffee
Most of these medicines relieve mild to moderate pain.
a family of moderate income
a book of moderate length
The group met with only moderate success.
a writer of moderate talent
The hotel offers comfortable rooms at moderate prices.
Both moderate Democrats and moderate Republicans can agree on this new law.
Verb
The protesters have been unwilling to moderate their demands.
She moderates at our office meetings.
She moderates our discussions so that we don't argue or talk at the same time.
Noun
Moderates from both political parties have agreed on an economic plan.
to the community's detriment, moderates were often shouted down at town meetings by the local hotheads
Recent Examples on the Web
Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
Stick to moderate amounts, like a small handful of almonds or a bit of dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa.
—Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 24 Oct. 2025
Tharin Pillay, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
After the trees and shrubs start to go dormant, a cozy layer of mulch will moderate soil temperature throughout winter and keep plants from drying out.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 21 Oct. 2025
Nafees Alam, Twin Cities, 22 Oct. 2025
Given his transgressive and reckless use of power, this argument will appeal to many moderates and independents.
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for moderate
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
Drivers are being urged to use caution on I-84, US-20, and I-90, where periods of moderate to heavy snow could reduce visibility and make road conditions hazardous.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
Stick to moderate amounts, like a small handful of almonds or a bit of dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa.
—Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
The event orbited around a panel, moderated by TIME’s editor-in-chief Sam Jacobs, that discussed how AI could shape the future of fashion—particularly from a customer’s perspective.
—Tharin Pillay, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
After the trees and shrubs start to go dormant, a cozy layer of mulch will moderate soil temperature throughout winter and keep plants from drying out.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 21 Oct. 2025
Noun
This alienated moderates within his party but electrified disaffected voters.
—Nafees Alam, Twin Cities, 22 Oct. 2025
Given his transgressive and reckless use of power, this argument will appeal to many moderates and independents.
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for moderate
Cite this Entry
“Moderate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moderate. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
moderate
1 of 3 adjective
mod·er·ate
ˈmäd-(ə-)rət
1
a
: avoiding or lacking extremes (as in behavior or temperature)
a moderate eater
moderate climates
b
: calm entry 3 sense 2, reasonable
moderate demands
2
a
: neither very much nor very little : average in size or amount
a moderate rain
b
: neither very good nor very bad
met with only moderate success
3
: opposed to major social change or extreme political ideas
a moderate candidate
4
: not expensive : reasonable or low in price
moderate rates
moderately
adverb
moderateness
noun
moderate
2 of 3 verb
mod·er·ate
ˈmäd-ə-ˌrāt
moderated; moderating
1
: to make or become less violent, severe, or intense
2
: to guide a discussion or act as chairperson of a meeting
moderate
3 of 3 noun
mod·er·ate
ˈmäd-(ə-)rət
: one who holds moderate views or belongs to a moderate group (as in politics)
Medical Definition
moderate
1 of 2 adjective
mod·er·ate
ˈmäd-(ə-)rət
1
: avoiding extremes of behavior : observing reasonable limits
a moderate drinker
2
: not severe in effect or degree
moderate alcohol consumption
the abdomen was mildly distended with moderate tenderness—Timothy Melester et al.
Timothy Melester et al.moderate developmental disabilities
moderate
2 of 2 transitive verb
mod·er·ate
ˈmäd-ə-ˌrāt
moderated; moderating
: to reduce the speed or energy of (neutrons)
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