| icy(adjective, severe) |
| mute(verb, dull, quiet, diminish, impair) |
| narcotize(verb, quiet, fix, hit, drug) |
| objective(adjective, insensitive) |
| quiet(verb, calm, dull, check, ease) |
| raw(adjective, hard, severe, rude, impolite) |
| restrain |
| slacken |
| smother(verb, dull, quiet, diminish, abate) |
| stifle(verb, dull, quiet, hurt, diminish) |
| straight-from-the-shoulder(adjective, frank) |
| surly(adjective, tough, rough, harsh, rude) |
| testy(adjective, irritable, grumpy, bad-tempered, tetchy) |
| thick-witted(adjective, dull) |
| tone down(verb, expression, phrasal verb, dull, quiet) |
| unadorned(adjective, hard, simple, severe, plain) |
| unembellished(adjective, hard, severe, plain, cold) |
| unfeeling(adjective, hard, tough, harsh, rude) |
| uninhibited(adjective, open, direct, free, honest) |
| unsympathetic(adjective, thoughtless, insensitive, crass, tactless) |