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