lighten (v.)

• abate
• allay
• alleviate
• assuage
• attemper
• attenuate
• beacon
• blunt
• break
• brighten
• chasten
• constrain
• control
• damp
• dampen
• dawn
• de-emphasize
• deaden
• dilute
• diminish
• disburden
• disembarrass
• disencumber
• downplay
• dull
• ease
• enlighten
• extenuate
• floodlight
• gladden
• highlight
• illume
• illuminate
• illumine
• irradiate
• lay
• lenify
• lessen
• light
• luminate
• mitigate
• moderate
• modulate
• mollify
• obtund
• palliate
• reduce
• relieve
• restrain
• shine
• slacken
• smile
• smother
• sober
• soften
• spotlight
• stifle
• subdue
• suppress
• tame
• temper
• thin
• unburden
• underplay
• unlade
• unload
• weaken