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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of moderate
Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2025
Some moderate Democrats representing New York's suburbs have criticized him and declined to back his campaign.
—Benjamin Siegel, ABC News, 28 June 2025
Eric Lach, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
Despite the push from House moderates, Roy and his Freedom Caucus colleagues successfully pushed the bill rightward in the lower chamber.
—Rachel Frazin, The Hill, 17 June 2025
Okla Jones, Essence, 25 June 2025
The final session, moderated by executive editor of international Elsa Keslassy, was about innovating for the future.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for moderate
Adjective
Trump’s ramping up of immigration enforcement and subsequent deployment of the California National Guard and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles has prompted the city’s progressive and moderate Democratic politicians to band together and set aside their differences.
—Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2025
Some moderate Democrats representing New York's suburbs have criticized him and declined to back his campaign.
—Benjamin Siegel, ABC News, 28 June 2025
Noun
In 2021, Eric Adams succeeded de Blasio with a potent mix of Black votes plus moderates of various creeds and colors.
—Eric Lach, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
Despite the push from House moderates, Roy and his Freedom Caucus colleagues successfully pushed the bill rightward in the lower chamber.
—Rachel Frazin, The Hill, 17 June 2025
Verb
One of the weekend’s major highlights includes a live NPR Tiny Desk conversation with Maxwell, moderated by producer Bobby Carter.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 25 June 2025
The final session, moderated by executive editor of international Elsa Keslassy, was about innovating for the future.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for moderate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moderate
Adjective
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Located on the North Island near the Manawatū River, Palmerston (Palmy, colloquially) is representative of many cities around the world, with a largely temperate climate and a population of around 91,000 residents.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
7 May 2025
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Today, these ants primarily live in undisturbed and temperate eastern North American forests.—
Lauren Thomann,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 May 2025
Adjective
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Arctic Sounds also stages an annual music festival − the Arctic Sounds Festival − in Sisimiut, in central western Greenland, which showcases original music acts from Nordic countries.—
Kim Hjelmgaard,
USA Today,
6 July 2025
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There is still a risk for more rain in central Texas.—
Antonio Pequeño IV,
Forbes.com,
6 July 2025
Adjective
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The average term of those loans as of the first quarter this year was 69.5 months.—
Jeanne Sahadi,
CNN Money,
9 July 2025
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According to Baseball Savant, his average fastball of 92.4 mph is in just the 21st percentile of pitchers in the game, but his fastball’s run value is in the 89th percentile.—
C. Trent Rosecrans,
New York Times,
9 July 2025
Adjective
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Country Music Hall of Famer Ray Stevens, 86, underwent successful heart surgery after a mild heart attack.—
Marcus K. Dowling,
The Tennessean,
11 July 2025
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Possible side effects of the vaccine, which the CDC says are usually mild, include soreness, redness or swelling; fever; mild rash; and temporary pain and stiffness in the joints.—
Jenny Porter Tilley,
IndyStar,
11 July 2025
Noun
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Could the Mooch complete his jester-to-statesman evolution by running as a charismatic centrist who can bring the U.S. into a post-partisan age?—
Jeff John Roberts,
Fortune,
2 July 2025
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So the intra-party battle continues between progressive backers of Mamdani, a 33-year-old state Assembly member and democratic socialist, and centrists such as Adams and Cuomo.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
27 June 2025
Verb
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Following Monday's trade, Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust will own 220 shares of GS, decreasing its weighting to about 4.35% from about 4.75%.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
7 July 2025
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Revenue has remained relatively stagnant, decreasing slightly from $153 million to $152 million over the past year.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
Adjective
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These moves have prompted concern among segments of Trump's base supportive of a restrained international role, raising questions about the administration's direction ahead of a crucial 2026 midterm election cycle.—
Nick Mordowanec,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 July 2025
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As Rick, Goggins got to show longtime fans and incoming members of his fan club a rarer side of the actor: quiet, restrained, in deep amounts of unspoken pain.—
Josh Wigler,
HollywoodReporter,
8 July 2025
Adjective
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New Canaan, where the median annual household income is $163,355, was granted a moratorium earlier this year that temporarily exempts it from lawsuits under 8-30g.—
Ginny Monk,
Hartford Courant,
11 July 2025
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City documents show 71% of the units are required to be rented at 50% of the county's median income, 20% of the units are priced at 60% of the CMI, and the remaining 9% are set at market rate.—
Liliana Fannin,
jsonline.com,
10 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Moderate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moderate. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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