KO
abate
absorb the shock
allay
alleviate
anesthetize
appease
assuage
attemper
attenuate
baffle
bank the fire
bedaze
benumb
besot
blunt
break the fall
chasten
chloroform
coldcock
constrain
control
cramp
cripple
cushion
damp
dampen
de-emphasize
deaden the pain
deafen
debilitate
desensitize
devitalize
diminish
dope
downplay
drug
dull
ease
ease matters
enervate
enfeeble
etherize
eviscerate
exhaust
extenuate
foment
alter
break
change
convert
incise
modify
retard
soften
weaken
deadened
deadening
deadens
Armageddon
armageddon
leaden
ledden
redden
snedden