Mäßigen

Mäßigen is a German verb meaning to moderate, temper, or restrain something by reducing its degree or intensity. It is used to describe the act of bringing a course of action, an attitude, or a quantity to a more restrained level. The related noun is Mäßigung, which denotes moderation or temperance.

Common usages include reducing tangible quantities such as expenses or prices, and moderating intangible qualities like tone, expectations, or risk. For example: Er muss seine Ausgaben mäßigen. Der Redner versuchte, den Ton zu mäßigen. Sie sollte ihre Erwartungen mäßigen, um Enttäuschungen zu vermeiden. In many contexts, mäßigen implies a deliberate calibration rather than a sudden reduction.

Reflexive use is also possible: sich mäßigen, meaning to restrain oneself. Thus one might say, Er musste sich mäßigen, um nicht überzureagieren. This construction emphasizes self-restraint rather than external control.

Stylistically, mäßigen is more common in written and formal language, such as journalism, policy discussions, or scholarly writing, than in casual speech. It is closely related to synonyms like zügeln, beschränken, and dämpfen, which convey similar ideas of restraint or reduction. In policy and economic contexts, mäßigen is often used to describe the act of tempering growth, spending, or commitments to achieve a more stable or sustainable level. Overall, mäßigen conveys measured, deliberate reduction rather than abrupt or extreme change.