moderately

adverb

ˈmä-d(ə-)rət-lē
Definition of moderatelynext
as in pretty
to some degree or extent it was raining moderately hard outside

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 moderately Give this annual full sun to light shade and keep soil moderately moist. — Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 21 Aug. 2026 Bookmark this short, moderately steep trail for an early morning trek with younger kids. — Jamie Siebrase, Denver Post, 20 Aug. 2026 The sweat meter returns to moderately high today, with dew points back in the 70s. — Bill Kelly, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026 So will most mid-tier, or moderately selective schools like Syracuse. — Ira Porter, Christian Science Monitor, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for moderately
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moderately
  1. pretty
  2. relatively
  3. quite
  4. fairly
  5. somewhat
  6. rather
  7. enough
Adverb
  • Two Democrats buck their party A pretty unusual thing happened this afternoon, the second day of the House of Representatives' return from August recess.
    — Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Even her beauty look was understated, from her unfussy low bun to her pretty pale-pink square manicure.
    — Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of pretty
Adverb
  • For reference, antimony is a relatively scarce metal/mineral used in things like flame retardants, batteries, electronics, and defense applications.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Its relatively rapid custom timeline—delivering boots in 6 to 12 months—is also a plus.
    — Christine Lennon, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of relatively
Adverb
  • If your lawn grass was already quite thin, topdressing with a thin layer of quality topsoil is recommended.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 Sep. 2026
  • As a shocking chart by the Wall Street Journal illustrates, the amount of capital spent on non-data center construction in the US has quite literally fallen off a cliff, while the capital deployed to build data centers soars into the stratosphere.
    — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of quite
Adverb
  • All three countries will also need to create new regulatory regimes to make sure that Chinese firms operate fairly and do not continue to benefit from Beijing’s subsidies or from its discriminatory allocation of exports of essential inputs.
    — Chad P. Bown, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The couple keeps their relationship fairly private, but Waggoner occasionally features Winter in posts online.
    — Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of fairly
Adverb
  • Continue to cook, agitating eggs and occasionally shaking pan and running spatula underneath to ensure eggs aren’t sticking, until surface of eggs looks somewhat set but still slightly shiny, about 30 seconds more.
    — Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Caplight’s Avalos added that demand for OpenAI shares has somewhat recovered from earlier-year lows in recent months.
    — Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of somewhat
Adverb
  • Protectionism is generally not the cause of trade conflicts, but rather a symptom of imbalances that have endured for too long.
    — MICHAEL PETTIS, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Thus polytheistic worship of deities and monist philosophy are not opposed but rather different ways of reaching the divine.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of rather
Adverb
  • The battery can be removed from beneath the seat, which means riders don't necessarily have to park the entire motorcycle beside an electrical outlet and hope the extension cord is long enough.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The main stumbling block involves getting the probe—essentially a large tank of Xenon gas and some solar panels for solar-electric propulsion, and a few small scientific payloads—moving fast enough.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of enough

Browse Nearby Words

moderated
moderately
moderateness
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Cite this Entry

“Moderately.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moderately. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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