MIDDLE-OF-THE-ROAD Synonyms: 55 Similar and Opposite Words

middle-of-the-road 1 of 2

adjective

ˈmi-dᵊl-əv-ṯẖə-ˈrōd

as in moderate

avoiding major social change or extreme political ideas a candidate with middle-of-the-road views on most hot-button issues

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

middle of the road

2 of 2

phrase

as in middle

a middle point between extremes I'm in the middle of the road on that issue.

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 middle-of-the-road

Adjective

The Giants are hoping their secondary can turn around after a middle-of-the-road season in 2025. — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 17 Aug. 2026 Its score in cost & financing, meanwhile, was more middle-of-the-road. — Ahmed Jawadi, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026 The Dolphins had 39 sacks last season, which tied for 15th in the NFL, a middle-of-the-road ranking. — Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2026 While its roster did sport the Byrds, it was better known for middle-of-the-road pop fare by acts like Johnny Mathis and Tony Bennett. — Chris Morris, Variety, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for middle-of-the-road

Recent Examples of Synonyms for middle-of-the-road

Adjective

Lawrence, who beat out more moderate candidates in the Democratic primary, was polling near even with Barrett in August.

— Connor Greene, Time, 30 Oct. 2026
Four moderate findings, each one manageable on its own, were sequenced into a full network compromise.

— Rohit Dhamankar, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of moderate

Adjective

Also, a Russian cruise missile killed two 15-year-old girls in the northern city of Chernihiv, and three civilians died when a Russian drone hit an apartment block in Kremenchuk in central Ukraine, authorities said.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2026
That capability is central to the role of ballistic missile submarines.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of central

Adjective

Earlier this month, Mastercard and BVNK launched Global Money Platform, designed to help banks, fintechs and businesses manage payments involving traditional currencies and stablecoins through a single application programming interface.

— Jenny Lee, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026
But Rodrigues believes technology can augment traditional teaching methods by examining how a student solves an algebra problem or structures a piece of writing and identifying learning gaps.

— Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of traditional

Browse Nearby Words

middle of nowhere

middle-of-the-road

middle of the road

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Middle-of-the-road.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/middle-of-the-road. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of middle-of-the-road

adjective

phrase

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Pyrrhic

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

The Words of the Week - Oct. 30

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes