abate
allay
alleviate
allow for
apologize
assuage
attemper
attenuate
bank the fire
bate
blunt
chasten
color
constrain
control
cramp
cripple
damp
dampen
de-emphasize
deaden
debilitate
devitalize
dilute
diminish
downplay
dull
ease
enervate
enfeeble
eviscerate
exhaust
explain
gloss over
gruel
ignore
justify
keep within bounds
lay
lay low
lenify
lessen
lighten
make allowance for
mince
mitigate
moderate
modulate
obtund
apologise
excuse
rationalise
rationalize
extenuated
extenuates
extenuating