Not extreme in opinion, in partisanship, and the like; as, a moderate Calvinist; a moderate Republican.

Not violent or rigorous; temperate; mild; gentle; as, a moderate winter.

Limited as to degree of progress; as, to travel at moderate speed.

Limited as to the degree in which a quality, principle, or faculty appears; as, an infusion of moderate strength; a man of moderate abilities.

Limited in scope or effects; as, a reformation of a moderate kind.

To restrain from excess of any kind; to reduce from a state of violence, intensity, or excess; to keep within bounds; to make temperate; to lessen; to allay; to repress; to temper; to qualify; as, to moderate rage, action, desires, etc.; to moderate heat or wind.

To become less violent, severe, rigorous, or intense; as, the wind has moderated.

lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits; "moderate your alcohol intake"; "hold your tongue"; "hold your temper"; "control your anger"

being within reasonable or average limits; not excessive or extreme; "moderate prices"; "a moderate income"; "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"

not extreme; "a moderate penalty"; "temperate in his response to criticism"

marked by avoidance of extravagance or extremes; "moderate in his demands"; "restrained in his response"

The necromedia's preferred descriptor for political figures who lack the moral courage or intellectual capacity to defend the lives of prenatal children. See also RELIGIOUS RIGHT.

one who holds moderate (middle-of-the-road) views or opinions, especially in politics or religion

In politics and religion, a moderate is an individual who holds an intermediate position between two extreme or radical viewpoints. The word "moderate" can also be used as an adjective describing such a position.