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
Aaron Gleeman, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
Aim for 150 minutes of light to moderate activity each week, such as jogging or cycling.
—Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 7 Apr. 2025
Andrew Solender, Axios, 6 Mar. 2025
Senate moderates, most notably Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.), were on the other.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 15 Mar. 2025
Richard Johnson, New York Daily News, 6 Apr. 2025
Barrett appeared poised to play a moderating role in a decision that could redefine the boundaries between church and state in labor and tax law.
—Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for moderate
Adjective
Lewis is three weeks into his recovery for a moderate left hamstring strain, which typically carries a return timeline of at least six weeks.
—Aaron Gleeman, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
Aim for 150 minutes of light to moderate activity each week, such as jogging or cycling.
—Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 7 Apr. 2025
Noun
The others were moderates from safer districts: Reps. Ami Bera (D-Calif.), Ed Case (D-Hawaii), Jim Costa (D-Calif.), Jim Himes (D-Conn.), Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.) and Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.).
—Andrew Solender, Axios, 6 Mar. 2025
Senate moderates, most notably Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.), were on the other.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 15 Mar. 2025
Verb
The evening is moderated by watch aficionado and PBS host Bill McCuddy, who often interviewed Newman, once asked the legendary actor and race car driver about his pricey Rolex.
—Richard Johnson, New York Daily News, 6 Apr. 2025
Barrett appeared poised to play a moderating role in a decision that could redefine the boundaries between church and state in labor and tax law.
—Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for moderate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moderate
Adjective
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In fact, the more temperate weather can be the best time to snuggle up outside, sit by a fire pit, and enjoy a new piece of outdoor furniture.—
Shea Simmons,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Oct. 2024
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The temperate weather eliminates the need for expensive insulation, heating systems, and other winter-proofing measures typical of northern builds.—
Katherine McLaughlin,
Architectural Digest,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Similarly, Weinrib said one of his clients, a man from Tajikistan applying for asylum, was apprehended at a standard check-in in New York and moved to central Pennsylvania.—
Eric Levenson,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2025
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Details of the Potential Deal Oracle, which provides cloud infrastructure to TikTok for storing U.S. user data, is expected to play a central role in the transition.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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That would translate into an average loss of $3,800 in purchasing power per household based on 2024 dollars.—
Tony Romm,
New York Times,
4 Apr. 2025
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O’Leary cited data that of the Top 100 movies each year, the top 20 movies all had an average window exclusive to theaters of 49 days, compared to just 31 days for the bottom 80 films.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The snowpack would provide constant runoff for rivers and streams and lakes, a riparian cornucopia ensuring only the mildest wildfires would ever come for our arboreal paradise.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
-
Symptoms can be mild to severe, affecting some or many parts of the body.—
Sarah Bradley,
Health,
6 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Keeping those cuts on the books would decrease revenue by $4.5 trillion from 2025 through 2034, according to estimates from the Tax Foundation.—
Ryan Ermey,
CNBC,
2 Apr. 2025
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In terms of a mechanism, the rejection seems to decrease levels of a neuropeptide in the brain, which increases after mating, leading Heberlein et al.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Clean lines, streamlined silhouettes, and restrained details result in impactful simplicity, which is exactly what a minimalist bride aspires for.—
Sarah Zendejas,
Vogue,
6 Apr. 2025
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Frank and vulnerable, her restrained vocal performance is the perfect pairing for Sundae Beats’ lush, ethereal soundscape.—
Christopher Claxton,
Billboard,
31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Case in point: this two-story container house is listed at Amazon for under $50,000, less than a quarter of the current median home price.—
Staff Author,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Apr. 2025
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Bear markets accompanied by recessions had a median duration of 528 calendar days and a market decline of 32.8 percent, the firm has found, using Dow Jones industrial average data since 1900.—
Jeff Sommer,
New York Times,
5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Momoa opted for softer style, wearing a suit in a gentle pink tone.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
10 Apr. 2025
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Her soothing voice and gentle manner is especially appealing to little ones.—
Kara Nesvig,
Parents,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Moderate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moderate. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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