soften up (?.)

• abate
• affect
• attenuate
• beleaguer
• bend
• beset
• besiege
• bias
• blarney
• blockade
• blunt
• butter
• butter up
• color
• cramp
• cripple
• cushion
• damp
• dampen
• deaden
• debilitate
• devitalize
• dispose
• dull
• ease
• encircle
• encompass
• enervate
• enfeeble
• envelop
• eviscerate
• exhaust
• extenuate
• fluff
• gentle
• get around
• gruel
• harass
• harry
• honey
• incline
• induce
• influence
• invest
• jolly
• kid along
• knead
• laxate
• lay it on
• lay low
• lay siege to
• lead
• limber
• limber up
• loosen
• mash
• massage
• mellow
• milden
• mitigate
• mollify
• move
• oil
• overdo it
• persuade
• play up to
• plump
• predispose
• prompt
• pulp
• rattle
• reduce
• relax
• sap
• shake
• shake up
• smash
• soap
• soft-soap
• soften
• squash
• string along
• stroke
• subdue
• supple
• surround
• sway
• tenderize
• tinge
• tone
• tone down
• tune down
• unbrace
• undermine
• unman
• unnerve
• unstrengthen
• unstring
• weaken
• wear down
• weigh with
• work