abate allay alleviate appease assuage attemper attenuate bank the fire bate blunt calm chasten conciliate constrain control cool cramp cripple damp dampen de-emphasize deaden debilitate defuse devitalize diminish disedge downplay draw the teeth dulcify dull enervate enfeeble eviscerate exhaust extenuate gruel keep within bounds lay lay low lay the dust lenify lessen lighten mitigate moderate modulate mollify obtund pacify palliate placate play down pour balm on propitiate rattle reduce reduce the temperature repress restrain retund sap shake shake up slacken slow down smooth smooth down smooth over smother sober sober down soften soften up soothe stifle subdue suppress tame temper tone down tranquilize tune down turn unbrace undermine underplay unman unnerve unstrengthen unstring weaken