| palliate(verb, lessen, mitigate, underplay) |
| take down a peg(expression, idiom, crush, criticize, scorn) |
| tear down(verb, expression, phrasal verb, crush, criticize) |
| abbreviate(reduce, diminish, lower, decrease, lessen) |
| chasten(verb, crush, confuse, shame, subdue) |
| demean(verb, crush, confuse, shame, subdue) |
| background(verb, action, depreciation, derogation) |
| soft-pedal(verb, decrease, lessening, underplay, minimizing) |
| dwarf(verb, reduce, diminish, lower, decrease) |
| abash(verb, crush, confuse, shame, subdue) |
| assuage |
| base(verb, crush, confuse, shame, subdue) |
| bemean(verb, crush, confuse, shame, subdue) |
| blunt |
| break(verb, crush, confuse, shame, subdue) |
| cast down(verb, expression, crush, confuse, shame) |
| chagrin(verb, crush, confuse, shame, subdue) |
| confound(verb, crush, confuse, shame, subdue) |
| conquer(verb, crush, confuse, shame, subdue) |
| constrain |