SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
moderate
verb
To make or become less intense, extreme, or severe.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Reduce intensity
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topModerate may be transitive or intransitive; this group concerns reducing intensity rather than chairing a discussion.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See moderate in use
A respectful question helped moderate the increasingly heated debate.
A fabric shade could moderate the lamp's harsh brightness, reducing its intensity while leaving the actors' faces visible.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license