blunt (verb)
31deaden — verb 1) surgeons tried to deaden the pain Syn: numb, dull, blunt, suppress; alleviate, mitigate, diminish, reduce, lessen, ease, soothe, relieve, assuage, kill Ant: inte …
32diminish — verb 1) the pain will gradually diminish Syn: decrease, lessen, decline, reduce, subside, die down, abate, dwindle, fade, slacken off, moderate, let up, ebb, wane, recede, die away/out, peter out; archaic remit …
33lessen — verb 1) the new law did little to lessen the stigma Syn: reduce, make less/smaller, minimize, decrease; allay, assuage, alleviate, attenuate, palliate, ease, dull, deaden, blunt, moderate, mitigate, dampen, soften …
34mollify — verb 1) they tried to mollify the protesters Syn: appease, placate, pacify, conciliate, soothe, calm (down) See note at pacify Ant: enrage 2) mollifying the fears of the public …
35palliate — verb 1) the treatment works by palliating symptoms Syn: alleviate, ease, relieve, soothe, take the edge off, assuage, moderate, temper, diminish, decrease, blunt, deaden 2) there is no way to palliate his dirty deed Syn …
36soften — verb 1) she tried to soften the blow of new service cuts Syn: alleviate, ease, relieve, soothe, take the edge off, assuage, cushion, moderate, mitigate, palliate, diminish, blunt, deaden 2) the winds softened …
37soothe — verb 1) Rachel tried to soothe him Syn: calm (down), pacify, comfort, hush, quiet, subdue, settle (down), lull, tranquilize; appease, conciliate, mollify Ant: agitate 2) …
38weaken — verb 1) the virus weakened him terribly Syn: enfeeble, debilitate, incapacitate, sap, enervate, tire, exhaust, wear out; wither, cripple, disable, emasculate 2) she tried to weaken the blow for him Syn …
39whet — verb 1) he whetted his knife on a stone Syn: sharpen, hone, strop, grind, file Ant: blunt 2) something to whet your appetite Syn: stimulate, excite, arouse …
40soften — verb the compensation should soften the blow Syn: ease, alleviate, relieve, soothe, take the edge off, cushion, lessen, diminish, blunt, deaden …
