1. Being within reasonable or average limits; not excessive or extreme
   "a moderate fine"; "moderate demands"; "a moderate estimate"; "a moderate eater"; "moderate success"; "a kitchen of moderate size"; "the X-ray showed moderate enlargement of the heart"; "moderate prices"; "a moderate income"
    
2. Marked by avoidance of extravagance or extremes
   "moderate in his demands";
   - restrained
    
3. Showing self-restraint; showing moderation in response
   "a moderate penalty";
   - temperate

1. Lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits
   "moderate your alcohol intake";
   - control, hold in, hold, contain, check, curb
    
2. Make less fast or intense
   "moderate your speed"
    
3. Make less severe or harsh
   "He moderated his tone when the students burst out in tears";
   - mince, soften
    
4. Make less strong or intense; soften
   "moderate that aggressive letter";
   - tone down, tame
    
5. Make more temperate, acceptable, or suitable by adding something else
   "she moderated her criticism";
   - temper, season, mollify
    
6. Preside over
   "John moderated the discussion";
   - chair, lead
    
7. (online content) check for required standards, e.g. block or delete spam, content with false or offensive content, etc.
   "He volunteered to moderate the forum discussions";
   - mod [informal]
    
8. [Brit] Check (an assessment) for consistency of marks with expected standards
   "The external examiner will moderate the final exam papers"

1. A person who takes a position in the political centre
   "As a moderate, she often found herself mediating between the two extremes";
   - centrist, middle of the roader, moderationist

Derived forms: moderated, moderates, moderating

See also: average, cautious, conservative, fair, fairish, indifferent, intermediate, limited, medium, middle-of-the-road, mild, minimalist, moderateness, moderation, modest, reasonable, small, temperate

Type of: actor, alter, change, decelerate, discuss, doer, hash out, hold back, keep, keep back, modify, restrain, slow down, talk over, weaken, worker

Antonym: immoderate

Part of: center [US], centre [Brit, Cdn]

Encyclopedia: Moderate