abate
absorb the shock
adjust to
affect
agree
allay
alleviate
allow for
alter
anesthetize
appease
assent
assuage
attemper
baffle
bank the fire
benumb
blunt
blur
box in
break the fall
castrate
chasten
circumscribe
color
come home to
compose
concur
condition
consent
constrain
control
cushion
damp
dampen
de-emphasize
deaden
deaden the pain
deafen
decry
defocus
demasculinize
devaluate
devalue
dim
diminish
downplay
dull
ease
change
modify
truckle
softened
softening
softens
awaken
compunction
deceleration
deterioration
dilatation
disarray
effacement
elaboration
graciousness
intermixture
lower
ossification
paleness
postscript
qualm
shading
stiffen
strengthen
tighten
tremor
weaken
widen
often