abate affect attenuate beleaguer bend beset besiege bias blarney blockade blunt butter butter up color cramp cripple cushion damp dampen deaden debilitate devitalize dispose dull ease encircle encompass enervate enfeeble envelop eviscerate exhaust extenuate fluff gentle get around gruel harass harry honey incline induce influence invest jolly kid along knead laxate lay it on lay low lay siege to lead limber limber up loosen mash massage mellow milden mitigate mollify move oil overdo it persuade play up to plump predispose prompt pulp rattle reduce relax sap shake shake up smash soap soft-soap soften squash string along stroke subdue supple surround sway tenderize tinge tone tone down tune down unbrace undermine unman unnerve unstrengthen unstring weaken wear down weigh with work