soften

[1]	soften up , melt , affect , mollify , mellow , palliate , soothe , relax , appease
[2]	mitigate , dampen , damp , assuage , diminish , weaken , break , moderate , reduce , cushion , lessen , weaken , allay , ease , lighten , abate , temper , relieve
[3]	muffle , yield , relent , deaden , damp , soft-pedal , lower , still , quiet , tone down , lessen , diminish , lighten , turn down , quell , (Mainly Brit) quieten
[4]	give in , cushion , buffer , succumb , surrender , yield , agree , consent , concur , assent , give way , relax , ease (up) , let up
[5]	mince , moderate