Definitions

middle-of-the-road

[mid-l-uhv-thuh-rohd] / ˈmɪd l əv ðəˈroʊd /

ADJECTIVE

moderate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

balanced compromising

WEAK

cautious conservative controlled disciplined even impartial indifferent inexpensive midway mild modest neutral noncommittal nonpartisan not excessive on the fence reasonable straight

NOUN

moderate position

Synonyms

WEAK

center centrism middle course middle ground middle way midway via media

middle of the road

NOUN

moderate position

Synonyms

WEAK

center centrism middle course middle ground middle way midway via media

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Local police said initial findings suggested a "system malfunction" caused multiple vehicles to stop in the middle of the road on Tuesday.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

Local authorities in Wuhan, Hubei province, began receiving calls "one after another" on Tuesday night about "multiple Apollo Go cars stopped in the middle of the road, unable to move", police said in a statement.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

Chesterton’s parable: If you stumble on a fence in the middle of the road, don’t take it down until you know why it’s there.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 2, 2026

The man stood in the middle of the road in decadent Beverly Hills, gawking at one of those only-in-L.A. streetscapes.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 27, 2025

About halfway back it happened: he stopped, sat down quickly in the middle of the road, and was very sick to his stomach.

From "Z for Zachariah" by Robert C. O’Brien

middle-of-the-road

Example Sentences

Related Words