assuage (v.)

• abate
• allay
• alleviate
• alter
• anesthetize
• appease
• attemper
• benumb
• blunt
• chasten
• circumscribe
• condition
• constrain
• control
• cushion
• damp
• dampen
• de-emphasize
• deaden
• diminish
• downplay
• dull
• ease
• extenuate
• feast
• feed
• foment
• gratify
• hedge
• lay
• leaven
• lenify
• lessen
• lighten
• limit
• lull
• mitigate
• moderate
• modify
• modulate
• mollify
• narrow
• numb
• obtund
• pad
• palliate
• poultice
• qualify
• quench
• reduce
• regale
• relieve
• restrain
• restrict
• salve
• sate
• satiate
• satisfy
• season
• slacken
• slake
• smother
• sober
• soften
• soothe
• stifle
• subdue
• suppress
• tame
• temper
• underplay
• weaken