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
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
6 July 2026
First, temperatures are much more moderate for outdoor work, the ground is usually moist after winter rains, and the shrub is dormant.
—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
5 July 2026
Josephine Stratman,
New York Daily News,
15 June 2026
When families see gasoline at the pump and electricity bills climb, their willingness to make major financial commitments, including purchasing a home, moderates even when their underlying desire to own has not changed.
—
Kevin Stankiewicz,zev Fima,
CNBC,
14 June 2026
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
27 June 2026
The conversation, which was held at Ralph Lauren’s women’s store at 888 Madison Avenue in New York, was moderated by Gigi Salmon, a British sports journalist and tennis commentator.
—
Lisa Lockwood,
Footwear News,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for moderate
Adjective
And for Rhaenyra, there are different visions of her premiership, one being something that looks a little like her father’s, that of the sort of moderate, kind of peaceful ruler.
—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
6 July 2026
First, temperatures are much more moderate for outdoor work, the ground is usually moist after winter rains, and the shrub is dormant.
—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
5 July 2026
Noun
Some factors — that crime has hit historic lows as Tisch has headed the department and Mamdani’s relative lack of action in the police department — have staved off criticism from moderates.
—
Josephine Stratman,
New York Daily News,
15 June 2026
When families see gasoline at the pump and electricity bills climb, their willingness to make major financial commitments, including purchasing a home, moderates even when their underlying desire to own has not changed.
—
Kevin Stankiewicz,zev Fima,
CNBC,
14 June 2026
Verb
Comments Comments are moderated.
—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
27 June 2026
The conversation, which was held at Ralph Lauren’s women’s store at 888 Madison Avenue in New York, was moderated by Gigi Salmon, a British sports journalist and tennis commentator.
—
Lisa Lockwood,
Footwear News,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for moderate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moderate
Adjective
-
Best Time to Visit Bellevue’s location in the heart of the Pacific Northwest means that its weather is generally temperate, with mild, rainy springs and warm, sunny summers.
-
This correlation is also stronger in more temperate regions than tropics, and in countries with fewer human impacts on the environment.
Adjective
-
The heart of the home features a large open living area with timber kitchen, central fire place, vaulted timber ceilings, and large floor-to-ceiling windows.
-
The province’s right to implement Islamic law was granted by Indonesia’s secular central government around 2005 as part of a peace deal to end a separatist insurgency.
Adjective
-
That adds up to just $15,080 a year, based on a standard 40-hour workweek—less than a third of the average American’s salary of around $60,000 yearly.
-
The battery life errs more on the average side and lacks magnetic charging, but the $200 Fourth of July discount makes up for it.
Adjective
-
The humidity lifts, replaced by bright, mild days made for the historic streets of Savannah and Charleston, or the maritime forests and salt marshes beyond them.
-
Scattered over the top were generous pebbles of queso panela, mild, milky and squeaky like halloumi.
Noun
-
Room for Disagreement Party centrists are skeptical of leaning too far into lessons learned from the string of primaries in deep-blue seats.
-
As frustrated centrists are quick to point out, primary victories in deep-blue urban districts won’t flip the seats necessary for Democrats to win congressional majorities.
Verb
-
Plus, new windows are more energy efficient than old ones, meaning a summer installation can decrease your energy bill now and when temperatures drop in the fall and winter.
-
Doubles players fear for their tennis future after being told by the ATP Tour that prize money and tournament sizes will decrease significantly starting in 2028.
Adjective
-
Since joining the winery, Melton has brought a restrained, classical sensibility to wines known for an ability to age.
-
The world press was less restrained; the Post, the Daily Mail, the Hindustan Times, and many others ran screaming headlines, accompanied by photographs of the climbers purloined from social media.
Adjective
-
The median cumulative earnings for UC graduates over a 20-year period amounts to more than $2 million, data from 2024 shows.
-
The median cost for full-time care for an infant in Los Angeles County was $1,209 a month at a family child-care home and $1,818 a month at a center in 2024, according to data from the California Budget & Policy Center.
Cite this Entry
“Moderate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moderate. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
