Lessen

reduce decrease diminish cut decline weaken mitigate abate moderate ease contract shrink impair thin lighten attenuate dwindle de-escalate taper clip curtail drain close narrow degrade minimize erode soft-pedal wind down downsize truncate dilute die down taper off slack up slow down grow less roll back minify cut back slacken abridge amputate take the edge off take the sting out take the bite out