1. (v. t.) To deprive of a string or strings; also, to take from a string; as, to unstring beads.

2. (v. t.) To loosen the string or strings of; as, to unstring a harp or a bow.

3. (v. t.) To relax the tension of; to loosen.

4. (v. t.) Used also figuratively; as, his nerves were unstrung by fear.

ablate abolish abrade abrogate abstract adjust to allay alleviate allow alter anesthetize annihilate annul appease assuage attemper attenuate bank the fire bate be eaten away benumb blot out blunt box in charge off chasten circumscribe close condition constrain consume consume away control corrode cramp cripple crumble curtail cushion cut damp dampen de-emphasize deaden deaden the pain debilitate decline decrease deduct deliquesce depreciate derogate detract devitalize die away die down dilute diminish discount disparage dive downplay drain drop drop off dull dwindle ease ease matters ease off ease up eat away ebb enervate enfeeble eradicate erode eviscerate exhaust extenuate exterminate extinguish extirpate extract fall fall away fall off file away foment give relief gruel hedge hedge about impair invalidate keep within bounds kick back languish lay lay low leach leaven lenify lessen let down let up lighten limit loose loosen lull make allowance melt away mitigate moderate modify modulate mollify narrow negate nullify numb obtund pad palliate play down plummet plunge poultice pour balm into pour oil on purify qualify quash rattle rebate recede reduce reduce the temperature refine refund regulate by relax relent relieve remit remove restrain restrict retrench root out rub away run its course run low sag salve sap season set conditions set limits shake shake up shorten shrink sink slack slack off slack up slacken slake slow down smother sober sober down soften soften up soothe stifle stupe subduct subdue subside subtract suppress tail off take a premium take away take from take off tame taper taper off temper thin thin out tone down tune down unbend unbrace undermine underplay undo unman unnerve unstrain unstrengthen unstring vitiate wane waste waste away water down weaken wear wear away weed wipe out withdraw write off