Synonyms of moderate

moderate 1 of 3

adjective

ˈmä-d(ə-)rət 

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

• temperate
• restrained
• typical
• medium
• controlled
• reasonable
• regular
• sensible
• modest
• deliberate
• normal
• inhibited
• calculated
• usual
• average
• curbed
• levelheaded
• rational
• measured
• disciplined
• mediocre
• self-denying
• self-disciplined
• self-controlled
• ordinary
• so-so
• run-of-the-mine
• routine
• run-of-the-mill

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• extreme
• excessive
• radical
• unreasonable
• inordinate
• irrational
• immoderate
• intemperate
• extremist
• uncontrolled
• rabid
• unbridled
• unrestrained
• unchecked
• unreasoning
• fanatic

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

• central
• traditional
• neutral
• middle-of-the-road
• centrist
• reasonable
• orthodox
• conventional
• rational
• sensible
• nonrevolutionary
• levelheaded

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• radical
• excessive
• ultra
• revolutionary
• conservative
• extremist
• progressive
• liberal
• reactionary
• rightist
• leftist
• violent
• inflammatory
• subversive
• revolutionist
• provocative
• fanatic
• exciting
• provoking
• incendiary
• rabid
• dissenting
• inciting
• agitating
• fomenting
• instigating
• rabble-rousing

3

as in average

being about midway between extremes of amount or size

a moderate snowfall was forecast for the region

Synonyms & Similar Words

• average
• median
• modest
• intermediate
• medium
• reasonable
• middle
• typical
• middling
• mean
• normal
• midsize
• adequate
• standard
• usual
• regular
• conventional
• tolerable
• popular
• common
• routine
• commonplace
• passable

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• extreme
• excessive
• unusual
• rare
• special
• exceptional
• strange
• uncommon
• unique
• private
• individual
• distinctive
• peculiar
• idiosyncratic

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

• temperate
• mild
• gentle
• sunny
• soft
• genial
• equable
• balmy
• clement
• peaceful
• pleasant
• delightful
• clear
• cloudless
• calm
• tranquil
• fair
• placid
• sunshiny
• rainless
• fine
• halcyon

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• severe
• harsh
• intemperate
• rough
• inclement
• breezy
• stormy
• gusty
• windy
• blustery
• gray
• rainy
• misty
• dismal
• cloudy
• gloomy
• hazy
• blustering
• overcast
• bleak
• foggy
• bitter
• raw
• squally
• dirty
• nasty
• foul
• showery
• sunless

moderate

2 of 3

noun

ˈmä-d(ə-)rət 

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

• centrist
• middle-of-the-roader
• progressive
• reformer
• compromiser
• accommodationist

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• extremist
• revolutionary
• conservative
• revolutionist
• liberal
• rightist
• radical
• reactionary
• leftist
• ultraist
• right-winger
• left-winger

moderate

3 of 3

verb

ˈmä-də-ˌrāt 

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

• decrease
• diminish
• subside
• decline
• ease
• fall
• shrink
• vanish
• lower
• ebb
• taper
• die (away or down or out)
• fall away
• taper off
• lessen
• drain (away)
• recede
• drop (off)
• dwindle
• weaken
• pall
• relent
• wane
• abate
• remit
• ratchet (down)
• phase down
• rachet (down)
• let up
• evaporate
• slow (down)
• de-escalate
• tail (off)
• alleviate
• collapse
• fade (away)
• compress
• melt (away)
• relax
• slacken
• constrict
• peter (out)
• condense
• contract
• give out
• cave (in)
• fritter (away)
• flag
• sink
• deflate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• increase
• rise
• build
• grow
• swell
• intensify
• expand
• accumulate
• mount
• escalate
• enlarge
• pick up
• appear
• soar
• emerge
• wax
• show up
• snowball
• mushroom
• balloon
• burgeon
• blow up
• elongate
• lengthen
• distend

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of moderate

Adjective

The Weather Prediction Center included swaths of Texas and southern Oklahoma in a moderate (Level 3 out of 4) risk of flash flooding and excessive rainfall. — Matthew Cappucci, Washington Post, 1 Oct. 2026

The other two drivers were taken to a hospital, one with moderate injuries and the other with minor injuries, Loehr said. — Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Noun

Democratic leadership’s demand for party discipline collided this week with promises that the caucus has enough room for socialists and moderates, a harbinger of trouble next year if Democrats win the majority. — Editorial Board, Washington Post, 4 Sep. 2026

Cruz appeared on Fox News and later shared the clip on X, arguing that moderates have long told conservatives to support the Republican nominee after losing a primary. — Natassia Paloma, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026

Verb

Pacsun said the new cohort was introduced in a session that was moderated by Kate Nishimura, deputy editor at Sourcing Journal, and featuring youth council members Sophia Johnson, Iya’Nique Kelly, Max Yu, Ashton Thomas and Mia Mendoza. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2026

The climb in oil prices also moderated on reports that Trump is open to easing sanctions against Iran if progress is made on Tehran’s nuclear program. — Jeff Marks, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2026