–adj.
1. kept or keeping within reasonable or proper limits; not extreme, excessive, or intense: a moderate price.
5. of or pertaining to moderates, as in politics or religion.
–n.
6. a person who is moderate in opinion or opposed to extreme views and actions, esp. in politics or religion.
7. (usually cap.) a member of a political party advocating moderate reform.
—Syn. 1. reasonable, temperate, judicious, just, cool, steady, calm. 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. 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. 2. average. 8. meliorate, pacify, calm, mitigate, soften, mollify, temper, qualify, appease, abate, lessen, diminish. See allay.
—Ant. 5, 6. radical.