moderate

[ adjective noun mod-er-it, mod-rit; verb mod-uh-reyt ]

adjective

1. kept or keeping within reasonable or proper limits; not extreme, excessive, or intense:

   a moderate price.

   Synonyms: calm, steady, cool, just, judicious, temperate, reasonable

2. of medium quantity, extent, or amount:

   a moderate income.

   Synonyms: average

3. mediocre or fair:

   moderate talent.

4. calm or mild, as of the weather.
5. of or relating to moderates, as in politics or religion.

   Antonyms: radical

noun

1. a person who is moderate in opinion or opposed to extreme views and actions, especially in politics or religion.

   Antonyms: radical

2. (usually initial capital letter) a member of a political party advocating moderate reform.

verb (used with object)

, mod·er·at·ed, mod·er·at·ing.

1. to reduce the excessiveness of; make less violent, severe, intense, or rigorous:

   to moderate the sharpness of one's words.

   Synonyms: diminish, lessen, abate, appease, qualify, temper, mollify, soften, mitigate, calm, pacify, ameliorate

2. to preside over or at (a public forum, meeting, discussion, etc.).

verb (used without object)

, mod·er·at·ed, mod·er·at·ing.

1. to become less violent, severe, intense, or rigorous.
2. to act as moderator; preside.

moderate

adjective

1. not extreme or excessive; within due or reasonable limits

   moderate demands

2. not violent; mild or temperate
3. of average quality or extent

   moderate success

noun

1. a person who holds moderate views, esp in politics

verb

1. to become or cause to become less extreme or violent
2. whenintr, often foll by over to preside over a meeting, discussion, etc
3. to act as an external moderator of the overall standards and marks for (some types of educational assessment)
4. physics to slow down (neutrons), esp by using a moderator
5. tr to monitor (the conversations in an on-line chatroom) for bad language, inappropriate content, etc

Derived Forms

• ˈmoderately, adverb
• ˈmoderateness, noun
• ˈmoderatism, noun

Other Words From

• moder·ate·ly adverb
• moder·ate·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of moderate¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English moderate (adjective) moderaten (verb), from Latin moderātus (past participle of moderārī “to mitigate, restrain, control”), equivalent to moderā- verb stem ( modest ) + -tus past participle suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of moderate¹

C14: from Latin moderātus observing moderation, from moderārī to restrain

Synonym Study

Moderate, temperate, judicious, reasonable all stress the avoidance of excess—emotional, physical, intellectual, or otherwise. Moderate implies response or behavior that is by nature not excessive: a moderate drinker, a moderate amount of assistance. Temperate, interchangeable with moderate in some general uses, usually stresses the idea of caution, control, or self-restraint: a surprisingly temperate response to the angry challenge. Judicious emphasizes prudence and the exercise of careful judgment: a judicious balance between freedom and restraint; judicious care to offend neither side. Reasonable suggests the imposition or adoption of limits derived from the application of reason or good sense: a reasonable price; a reasonable amount of damages allotted to each claimant. See allay.

Example Sentences

In recent weeks, mortgage rates ticked upward, reacting to fiscal stimulus bill progress and signs of moderate improvement in the economy.

From Washington Post

The greater use of subsidies, however, is a strategy that has consensus support among House and Senate Democrats, from liberals to moderates, though it is opposed by most Republicans.

From Washington Post

They could moderate everything, or they could moderate nothing, and they still won’t be liable.

From ProPublica

How Nextdoor moderates its content also makes things murkier.

From Vox

In November of that year, Voytek moderated a standing-room-only talk at the Society for Neuroscience conference on how to use it.

From Quanta Magazine

Alcohol and sugar, even in moderate amounts, are not only sinful but poisonous.

From The Daily Beast

Yes, the gun:  “While this gives a moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise, and independence to the mind.”

From The Daily Beast

As with so many things, keeping screen time in moderate amounts seems key.

From The Daily Beast

Too moderate and the more radical groups call you a snitch, jeopardizing your standing and authority at demonstrations.

From The Daily Beast

Many Muslims may disagree with my view, or interpret Islam in a more moderate way, but I cannot accept this religion myself.

From The Daily Beast

If the paper is about twelve by eighteen inches this will accommodate moderate examples of most of the fronds.

From Project Gutenberg

The duty on importation had been only twopence per pound, a moderate sum in view of the prices realized by the sale of it.

From Project Gutenberg

Moderate salaries prevailed, but the sovereign was worth much more then than now, while wants were fewer.

From Project Gutenberg

As long as an emergency truck could squeeze through at moderate speed, that was enough.

From Project Gutenberg

In moderate cases variations in size and shape of the red cells and polychromatophilia occur.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• abate
• alleviate
• constrain
• cool
• curb
• decrease
• die down
• diminish
• lessen
• mitigate
• modify
• reduce
• slacken
• slow
• soften
• subdue
• subside
• temper
• tone down
• wane