moderate

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

/ adjective, noun ˈmɒd ər ɪt, ˈmɒd rɪt; verb ˈmɒd əˌreɪt /

See synonyms for: moderate / moderated / moderating / moderately on Thesaurus.com

adjective

kept or keeping within reasonable or proper limits; not extreme, excessive, or intense: a moderate price.

of medium quantity, extent, or amount: a moderate income.

mediocre or fair: moderate talent.

calm or mild, as of the weather.

of or relating to moderates, as in politics or religion.

noun

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

(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.

to reduce the excessiveness of; make less violent, severe, intense, or rigorous: to moderate the sharpness of one's words.

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

verb (used without object), mod·er·at·ed, mod·er·at·ing.

to become less violent, severe, intense, or rigorous.

to act as moderator; preside.

SYNONYMS FOR moderate

1 reasonable, temperate, judicious, just, cool, steady, calm. 2 average.

8 ameliorate, pacify, calm, mitigate, soften, mollify, temper, qualify, appease, abate, lessen, diminish.

See synonyms for moderate on Thesaurus.com

ANTONYMS FOR moderate

5, 6 radical.

See antonyms for moderate on Thesaurus.com

QUIZZES

THIS PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ IS PERFECT PRACTICE FOR THE REAL TEST

In our third teacher-created PSAT practice test there are new and unique vocabulary terms you may have never heard of! Can you guess what they mean?

Question 1 of 10

seclusion

a false belief or opinion.

the matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid.

the state of being isolated, kept apart, or withdrawn into solitude.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of moderate

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 (see modest) + -tus past participle suffix

synonym study for moderate

1. 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. 8. See allay.

OTHER WORDS FROM moderate

mod·er·ate·ly, adverbmod·er·ate·ness, noun

Words nearby moderate

Model T, model theory, modem, modem session, Modena, moderate, moderate breeze, moderate gale, moderate-income, moderately, moderation

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for moderate

Alcohol and sugar, even in moderate amounts, are not only sinful but poisonous.
How Taryn Toomey’s ‘The Class’ Became New York’s Latest Fitness Craze|Lizzie Crocker|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Yes, the gun: “While this gives a moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise, and independence to the mind.”
Forget the Resolutions; Try a Few Declarations|Kevin Bleyer|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
As with so many things, keeping screen time in moderate amounts seems key.
Yes, Your Toddler Can Watch TV: The New Rules for Screen Time|Russell Saunders|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Too moderate and the more radical groups call you a snitch, jeopardizing your standing and authority at demonstrations.
De Blasio and the New York City Protesters Have No Blood on Their Hands|Jacob Siegel|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Members of the Syrian moderate opposition want to coordinate on airstrikes, but say they have been rebuffed.
U.S. Hasn’t Even Started Training Rebel Army to Fight ISIS|Tim Mak|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Appearance of a small portion of muscle under a moderate magnification.
Voice Production in Singing and Speaking|Wesley Mills
This answer would have satisfied most Christians endowed with any moderate degree of patience; but not so the ruffian.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 71, No. 436, February 1852|Various
In primis valeas bene—Now learn what and how great benefits a moderate diet brings with it.
Dictionary of Quotations from Ancient and Modern, English and Foreign Sources|James Wood
He spoke with peculiar asperity of Sprat, who had undoubtedly been the most humane and moderate member of the board.
The History of England from the Accession of James II.|Thomas Babington Macaulay
For persons in moderate circumstances this is a very important consideration.
Distributive Justice|John A. (John Augustine) Ryan

British Dictionary definitions for moderate

moderate

adjective (ˈmɒdərɪt, ˈmɒdrɪt)

not extreme or excessive; within due or reasonable limitsmoderate demands

not violent; mild or temperate

of average quality or extentmoderate success

noun (ˈmɒdərɪt, ˈmɒdrɪt)

a person who holds moderate views, esp in politics

verb (ˈmɒdəˌreɪt)

to become or cause to become less extreme or violent

(when intr, often foll by over) to preside over a meeting, discussion, etc

British and NZ to act as an external moderator of the overall standards and marks for (some types of educational assessment)

physics to slow down (neutrons), esp by using a moderator

(tr) to monitor (the conversations in an on-line chatroom) for bad language, inappropriate content, etc

Derived forms of moderate

moderately, adverbmoderateness, nounmoderatism, noun

Word Origin for moderate

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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WORD OF THE DAY

moderate

adjective

noun

verb (used with object), mod·er·at·ed, mod·er·at·ing.

verb (used without object), mod·er·at·ed, mod·er·at·ing.

SYNONYMS FOR moderate

ANTONYMS FOR moderate

QUIZZES

THIS PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ IS PERFECT PRACTICE FOR THE REAL TEST

Origin of moderate

synonym study for moderate

OTHER WORDS FROM moderate

Words nearby moderate

Example sentences from the Web for moderate

British Dictionary definitions for moderate

adjective (ˈmɒdərɪt, ˈmɒdrɪt)

noun (ˈmɒdərɪt, ˈmɒdrɪt)

verb (ˈmɒdəˌreɪt)

Derived forms of moderate

Word Origin for moderate

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

moderate

adjective

noun

verb (used with object), mod·er·at·ed, mod·er·at·ing.

verb (used without object), mod·er·at·ed, mod·er·at·ing.

SYNONYMS FOR moderate

ANTONYMS FOR moderate

QUIZZES

THIS PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ IS PERFECT PRACTICE FOR THE REAL TEST

Origin of moderate

synonym study for moderate

OTHER WORDS FROM moderate

Words nearby moderate

Words related to moderate

Example sentences from the Web for moderate

British Dictionary definitions for moderate

adjective (ˈmɒdərɪt, ˈmɒdrɪt)

noun (ˈmɒdərɪt, ˈmɒdrɪt)

verb (ˈmɒdəˌreɪt)

Derived forms of moderate

Word Origin for moderate