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moderatism

moderatism

8.6
A political approach that avoids extreme left and right views
  • noun
  • /ˈmɒdəˌreɪtɪzəm/
  • Formal
translation icon : moderatismo
  • The party's platform reflects values of moderatism, appealing to a wide range of voters.

Examples

  • Adopting a stance of moderatism can help bridge the divide between opposing political ideologies.

  • Here is someone who clearly isn't a buddy to religion but who also understands the role that religion itself can play in combating things like creationism that, despite our differences, is a threat to both atheism and religious moderatism.

    Blog text (28)
  • Moderatism encourages moderatism and dialogue rather than extreme political positions.

Synonyms

centrism
vsmoderatism
3 6.1

A belief about politics that chooses moderate positions between the left and the right

is broader and frames avoidance of extremes as a political philosophy
moderationism
vsmoderatism
  • Formal
9.7

A policy of avoiding extremes in politics to keep balance

is the political philosophy rather than a set of specific policies
possibilism
vsmoderatism
  • Specialized
9.6

A political approach that uses small practical changes within the existing system to make progress

emphasizes avoiding political extremes rather than focusing on gradual reform

Antonyms

14 8.1

Belief in making large political or social changes, often by force

How Moderate

moderatism
  • Formal
8.6
partisanship
65 7.4
radicalism
14 8.1
extremism
  • Literature
62 7.4

Surface Forms

moderatism singular
moderatisms plural

Morphology

moderatism = moderate (transparent) = moderate + ism

The noun is formed by adding the ideology/ doctrine-forming suffix '-ism' to 'moderate', so the meaning 'the doctrine or practice of moderation' is directly predictable.

Etymology

The word moderatism comes from moderate and moderation, which come from an old Latin idea meaning 'measure' or 'control' and so give the picture of staying in the middle. So, moderatism is the political choice to take middle, less extreme positions to avoid strong fights between groups.