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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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
Hikmat Mohammed, Vogue, 28 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, millions more people are under severe weather warnings Tuesday, stretching from northeastern Texas into Alabama and middle Tennessee, with a moderate risk of severe thunderstorms continuing throughout the day.
—Kathryn Prociv, NBC news, 28 Apr. 2026
Arkansas Online, 22 Apr. 2026
Today’s Democratic moderates will forever be tarred with the left’s extremism and its willingness to sacrifice the interests of the country on the altar of political expediency.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 16 Apr. 2026
Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 26 Apr. 2026
The board majority’s extreme policies need to be moderated.
—John Franklin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
This layered approach combines AI moderation, human review and real-world gameplay signals.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for moderate
Adjective
Puig said the results reflected the moderate consumer environment, with growth led by fragrances, fashion, and makeup.
—Hikmat Mohammed, Vogue, 28 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, millions more people are under severe weather warnings Tuesday, stretching from northeastern Texas into Alabama and middle Tennessee, with a moderate risk of severe thunderstorms continuing throughout the day.
—Kathryn Prociv, NBC news, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
Iran's president and its parliament speaker posted statements on social media declaring the country has no hard-liners or moderates.
—Arkansas Online, 22 Apr. 2026
Today’s Democratic moderates will forever be tarred with the left’s extremism and its willingness to sacrifice the interests of the country on the altar of political expediency.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
The United States in particular has historically been cautious about using this capability, and Iran—although happy to assassinate—has moderated use of this tool against Americans.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 26 Apr. 2026
The board majority’s extreme policies need to be moderated.
—John Franklin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
Sama has since changed its business model and stopped offering content moderation services to Meta, but has remained focused on services such as AI data labeling for the tech giant.
—ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
This layered approach combines AI moderation, human review and real-world gameplay signals.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for moderate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moderate
Adjective
-
In November or December, that is likely to change, as temperatures drop up north while the climate remains temperate here, and surf swells get notably more ridable.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The controversy stems from the fact that Mars seems to have had temperate climate periods with rain that deeply altered the rocks, as well as widespread rivers and lakes that persisted for potentially millions of years.—
Jacopo Prisco,
CNN Money,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The fifth commission for the plinth on the High Line elevated park is an homage to the Buddhas of Bamiyan, the pair of 6th-century colossi in central Afghanistan that the Taliban blew up in 2001.—
Benjamin Sutton,
CNN Money,
28 Apr. 2026
-
In an industry where the typical sample is a size zero, weight has always been central to a model’s success.—
Rory Satran,
Vogue,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The Lions valued Mays’ ability to anchor in pass protection, after allowing the second-fastest average time to pressure and a pass-block win rate that ranked 31st in the NFL, per ESPN.—
Colton Pouncy,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2026
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But prices will likely stay high simply because the supply is so low; the average price on April 15 was 30 cents higher than a month earlier, according to the American Automobile Association.—
Aaron Cantú,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Manager Craig Counsell described this hamstring strain as mild, explaining Thielbar said this is a less-severe version of the ailment.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Fano is a big, athletic guy, but is a mild surprise as the first off the board.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The elimination of prop bets would decrease revenue by more than $2 million per year, according to the fiscal note produced by the Legislative Council Staff.—
Noelle Phillips,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
-
And while low-cost housing has decreased, rents have risen.—
Desiree Mathurin
April 24,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
To the left is a relaxed deck for post-dip chilling; to the right is the beautifully restrained restaurant, partly enclosed in a glasshouse with an undulating canopy roof.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Neither restrained nor overpowering.—
Brock Keeling,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The Housing Impact Fund, in its third wave of fundraising, now has $102 million to acquire, renovate and rent units for families making below 30% of the area median income up to 80% AMI.—
Desiree Mathurin
April 24,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Apr. 2026
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In 2020, Liberty Park’s median household income was about 64% of the citywide figure — roughly $20,000 less per family, according to city data from the time.—
Mark Dee,
Idaho Statesman,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Both are gentler than acetone and won’t dry your nails and cuticles out as much, making this pot a great choice for those with sensitive skin.—
Sarah Felbin,
Allure,
30 Apr. 2026
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Cooked in a wood-burning oven, the chicken hums with a gentle smokiness and a complex, fruity chile flavor that’s warm, rounded and highly addictive.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Moderate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moderate. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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