immoderate

adjective

im·​mod·​er·​ate (ˌ)i(m)-ˈmä-d(ə-)rət How to pronounce immoderate (audio)
: exceeding just, usual, or suitable bounds
immoderate pride
an immoderate appetite
immoderately adverb
immoderateness noun
immoderation noun
Choose the Right Synonym for immoderate

excessive, immoderate, inordinate, extravagant, exorbitant, extreme mean going beyond a normal limit.

excessive implies an amount or degree too great to be reasonable or acceptable.

excessive punishment

immoderate implies lack of desirable or necessary restraint.

immoderate spending

inordinate implies an exceeding of the limits dictated by reason or good judgment.

inordinate pride

extravagant implies an indifference to restraints imposed by truth, prudence, or good taste.

extravagant claims for the product

exorbitant implies a departure from accepted standards regarding amount or degree.

exorbitant prices

extreme may imply an approach to the farthest limit possible or conceivable but commonly means only to a notably high degree.

extreme shyness

Examples of immoderate in a Sentence

the young widow remarried with what was regarded as immoderate haste by most observers
Recent Examples on the Web That would have put the celebration on Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, a day traditionally marked by a big pancake supper and other immoderate and extravagant indulgences on the night before fasting and sobriety take over for Lent. Ruth Graham, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2024 The meat is juicy, salty and a little stringy, with a thick, craggy crust laced with an immoderate amount of black pepper. Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2024 Haley’s gift is to come across as a moderate while espousing immoderate views and surrounding herself with extremists. Sue Halpern, The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2023 Mia got her gig and Lucia got her money; that final shot, in which the two best friends skip off together to make immoderate purchases, might be the closest thing White will ever give us to a happy ending. Time, 12 Dec. 2022 It’s long been argued that information disclosure initiatives like TRI compel polluters to scale back immoderate emissions for fear that their names might otherwise end up on the front page of The New York Times. Ava Kofman, oregonlive, 16 Dec. 2021 In my reading, Louie has been accused of immoderate desire, and the story is her response. Amy Weiss-Meyer, The Atlantic, 16 May 2021 Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, isn’t their willingness to pursue traditional Democratic goals by immoderate methods but their embrace of radical progressivism. Barton Swaim, WSJ, 12 Apr. 2021 But the immoderate 6-year-old remains his default setting. Reggie Ugwu, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'immoderate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English immoderat, from Latin immoderatus, from in- + moderatus, past participle of moderare to moderate

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of immoderate was in the 14th century

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Dictionary Entries Near immoderate

Cite this Entry

“Immoderate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/immoderate. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

immoderate

adjective
im·​mod·​er·​ate (ˈ)im-ˈ(m)äd-(ə-)rət How to pronounce immoderate (audio)
: going too far or asking too much : excessive
immoderately adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on immoderate

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