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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in average
being about midway between extremes of amount or size
a moderate snowfall was forecast for the region
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in mild
marked by temperatures that are neither too high nor too low
a city that is celebrated for its moderate climate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of moderate
Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 1 June 2026
While Connecticut is now under moderate drought conditions, experts warn that a rare El Niño year could prolong dry conditions later into the year, increasing chances for wildfires, crop loss and water conservation.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 1 June 2026
Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 26 May 2026
In the North, the Republicans were split between moderates and radicals, while the Democrats were split between loyal Unionists and conservatives who preferred peace to a bloody war that pivoted on abolition.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 May 2026
Noelle Harff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2026
The conversation was moderated by TIME senior health correspondent Alice Park.
—Tharin Pillay, Time, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for moderate
Adjective
For adults to keep the heart in top shape, the AHA recommends a minimum of 150 minutes (that’s two and a half hours) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week or 75 minutes per week of vigorous aerobic activity.
—Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 1 June 2026
While Connecticut is now under moderate drought conditions, experts warn that a rare El Niño year could prolong dry conditions later into the year, increasing chances for wildfires, crop loss and water conservation.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 1 June 2026
Noun
Her commission imposed a ban on noncompete clauses, a measure used by firms to prevent employees from leaving their jobs that has drawn bitter condemnation from libertarians and moderates as well as neo-Brandeisians.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 26 May 2026
In the North, the Republicans were split between moderates and radicals, while the Democrats were split between loyal Unionists and conservatives who preferred peace to a bloody war that pivoted on abolition.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 May 2026
Verb
The conversations will be moderated by an affiliated coalition of universities and think tanks — like American Public Trust, Berggruen Institute and Stanford Deliberative Democracy Lab.
—Noelle Harff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2026
The conversation was moderated by TIME senior health correspondent Alice Park.
—Tharin Pillay, Time, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for moderate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moderate
Adjective
-
The evolutionary solution, for most temperate insects, is to use the light signal as the primary trigger and treat temperature as a secondary modifier.—
John Drake,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
Kelp fringes nearly a third of the planet’s coastlines and is an iconic feature of temperate waters, from California and Chile to Norway, Japan, and Australia.—
Tatjana Baleta,
Time,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
For Ginsberg, ever-attuned to the rhythmic physicality of verse, the central atom of poetry wasn’t the line or the foot, but rather the breath, emphasizing that his were longer than his free verse hero Whitman because the good, grey poet probably had smaller lungs.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
-
According to the sign on the set before the curtain rises, the population of Jerome, an actual former copper-mining town in central Arizona, has evaporated, giving it ghost status.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
The organization calculated the average tuition and financial aid assistance at schools around the nation, then report the median of those averages.—
Chase Jordan
June 4,
Charlotte Observer,
4 June 2026
-
According to the website Extreme Weather Watch, here is the average high and low temperature in Kansas City on the dates of the six matches scheduled here.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
Hemmers said that mild allergy symptoms can be treated with over the counter drugs, but more severe cases that disrupt quality of life or day-to-day living, should be treated by a professional allergist.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
29 May 2026
-
Experts recommend oral rehydration fluids rather than sports drinks to replace important nutrients and minerals lost to vomiting and diarrhea — although drinks like Gatorade may help with mild dehydration.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
The centrist San José mayor hasn’t spent enough time in his current job to prove himself to voters beyond the San Francisco Peninsula.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
25 May 2026
-
The unrest presents the biggest challenge yet for Paz, a business-friendly centrist who came to power six months ago as a wave of conservative electoral wins swept the region.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
Miami’s decreasing rents fit into a larger trend in South Florida.—
Catherine Odom,
Miami Herald,
29 May 2026
-
The most recent Los Angeles County Quality of Life Index survey out of UCLA shows perception of public safety losing ground even as property crime has decreased modestly over the same period.—
Sonja Sharp,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
When a court issues a domestic violence protective order, federal law prohibits the restrained person from possessing a gun.—
Sativa Banks,
The Conversation,
4 June 2026
-
Though America’s founders, of course, did not always live up to these ideals themselves, this early reform shows us that American justice was meant to be resolute, principled, and restrained.—
Ana Zamora,
Time,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
And while the report shows that Miami’s overall median rent is dropping, Zumper’s data for some Miami-Dade neighborhoods and municipalities shows the opposite trend.—
Catherine Odom,
Miami Herald,
29 May 2026
-
Black women are diagnosed with breast cancer at a younger median age (60, compared with 62 for white women) and are 38% more likely to die from the disease.—
Ayren Jackson-Cannady,
SELF,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Moderate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moderate. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
