abate allay alleviate assuage attemper bank the fire bedwarf belittle blunt chasten conceal constrain control cushion damp dampen deaden deprecate depreciate detract from diminish disguise downplay dull dwarf extenuate hush up keep within bounds lay lenify lessen lighten make light of make little of make nothing of minify minimize mitigate moderate modulate muffle obtund palliate play down reduce reduce the temperature restrain set at naught set little by silence slacken slow down smother sober sober down soften stifle subdue suppress tame temper think little of think nothing of tone down tune down underplay weaken