as in centrists
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in decreases
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 moderates
Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
The issue of whether to abolish ICE has become a new dividing line between Democratic progressives and moderates.
—Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026
Some Lynch backers have criticized Hogg and others for running candidates against moderates like the South Boston Democrat.
—Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
As Tesla’s growth moderates, SpaceX increasingly emerges as the logical new flagship within Musk’s portfolio.
—Sasirekha Subramanian, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Polls say voters, especially crucial moderates and independents, are not happy with the immigration crackdown that has led to clashes on the streets of cities like Minneapolis, where an ICE agent killed unarmed motorist Renee Nicole Good.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 16 Jan. 2026
Instead, the major political factions of the time--from the moderates to the communists to the Islamists to millions of everyday Iranians--put their trust in the mullahs to bring them a free Iran.
—Arkansas Online, 15 Jan. 2026
Unexpected absences of some Republicans from votes and bouts of resistance from both hard-liners and moderates, who have repeatedly bucked leadership and threatened to derail key bills, are another problem for Johnson.
—Sudiksha Kochi, The Hill, 13 Jan. 2026
The debate within the Democratic coalition is already bigger and louder, dividing moderates in swing states from progressives elated by Mamdani's rocket to victory in the nation's largest city.
—Susan Page, USA Today, 12 Jan. 2026
David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 28 Dec. 2025
Their answer is a framework that moderates collective impulses while preserving the rights of individuals and minorities.
—Veronique De Rugy, Oc Register, 26 Nov. 2025
During the second panel of the Pillars of the Green Transition event on September 24, 2025, Newsweek editor Jeff Young moderates a discussion with HowGood CEO Alex Gillett, Climate Group CEO Helen Clarkson, Elopak CEO Thomas Körmendi and Arva CRO Phil Harris.
—Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
Noun
The diplomats presented to Western politicians as moderates are tasked with using diplomacy to buy time for Khamenei.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
The issue of whether to abolish ICE has become a new dividing line between Democratic progressives and moderates.
—Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026
Some Lynch backers have criticized Hogg and others for running candidates against moderates like the South Boston Democrat.
—Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
As Tesla’s growth moderates, SpaceX increasingly emerges as the logical new flagship within Musk’s portfolio.
—Sasirekha Subramanian, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Polls say voters, especially crucial moderates and independents, are not happy with the immigration crackdown that has led to clashes on the streets of cities like Minneapolis, where an ICE agent killed unarmed motorist Renee Nicole Good.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 16 Jan. 2026
Instead, the major political factions of the time--from the moderates to the communists to the Islamists to millions of everyday Iranians--put their trust in the mullahs to bring them a free Iran.
—Arkansas Online, 15 Jan. 2026
Unexpected absences of some Republicans from votes and bouts of resistance from both hard-liners and moderates, who have repeatedly bucked leadership and threatened to derail key bills, are another problem for Johnson.
—Sudiksha Kochi, The Hill, 13 Jan. 2026
The debate within the Democratic coalition is already bigger and louder, dividing moderates in swing states from progressives elated by Mamdani's rocket to victory in the nation's largest city.
—Susan Page, USA Today, 12 Jan. 2026
Verb
The Digital Services Act primarily moderates the content on online platforms to prioritize user safety, while the Digital Markets Act aims to prevent Big Tech companies from abusing their market dominance.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 28 Dec. 2025
Their answer is a framework that moderates collective impulses while preserving the rights of individuals and minorities.
—Veronique De Rugy, Oc Register, 26 Nov. 2025
During the second panel of the Pillars of the Green Transition event on September 24, 2025, Newsweek editor Jeff Young moderates a discussion with HowGood CEO Alex Gillett, Climate Group CEO Helen Clarkson, Elopak CEO Thomas Körmendi and Arva CRO Phil Harris.
—Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moderates
Noun
-
By running as middle-of-the-road centrists.—
Stephen Moore,
Boston Herald,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Many Senate Democrats, including centrists who voted to reopen the government in November 2025, have come out against the DHS funding bill.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Elevated heart rate and less endurance As hydration drops, blood volume decreases, forcing the heart to work harder to maintain cardiac output.—
Katharine Gammon,
Time,
10 Feb. 2026
-
As the incivility and tribalism of our politics increase, the quality of our political discourse decreases accordingly.—
Bradley Gitz,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This, in my opinion, diminishes that.—
Rachel Handler,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Maybe, too, Giannis gets hurt again in March and his trade value diminishes a bit more.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Those physicians worry the impacts will last long after the surge subsides.—
Caroline Cummings,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
-
As the mayhem subsides, a silhouette of a lone Charli remains.—
Cheyenne Roundtree,
Rolling Stone,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
As the population ages and the number of college students declines, institutions of higher education are actively cultivating a crop of midlife and older students.—
Allison Aubrey,
NPR,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Ed Setzler declines to run to replace Barry Loudermilk.—
Adam Beam,
AJC.com,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Hypothermia is a condition in which the body’s core temperature falls below 95 degrees.—
William Lee,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Cleaning your oven, however, is something that falls within the former category.—
Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner,
Martha Stewart,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Moderates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moderates. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
