tone down (v.)
- abate
- achromatize
- allay
- alleviate
- assuage
- atone
- attemper
- attune
- baffle
- blanch
- bleach
- blunt
- chasten
- chord
- constrain
- control
- cushion
- damp
- dampen
- de-emphasize
- deaden
- deafen
- decolor
- decolorize
- dim
- diminish
- discolor
- downplay
- drain
- dull
- ease
- etiolate
- extenuate
- fade
- fluff
- fume
- gentle
- knead
- lay
- lenify
- lessen
- lighten
- limber
- loosen
- mash
- massage
- mat
- mellow
- mitigate
- moderate
- modulate
- mollify
- muffle
- mute
- obtund
- pale
- palliate
- peroxide
- plump
- pulp
- reduce
- relax
- restrain
- slacken
- smash
- smother
- sober
- soft-pedal
- soften
- squash
- stifle
- stop
- string
- subdue
- supple
- suppress
- tame
- tarnish
- temper
- tenderize
- tune
- underplay
- voice
- weaken
- whiten