softened

mitigated

Reduced in intensity

• lessenedMade or became smaller
• temperedStrengthened through heat treatment
• moderatedRestrained or supervised

diminished · muted · subdued · dampened · attenuated · blunted · weakened · eased · alleviated · toned-down

muted

Made quieter or softer

• hushedReduced to silence
• quietedMade less loud
• dampenedMade moist or subdued

dulcet · murmured · whispered · muffled · subdued · gentle · low · faint · mellowed · soothing

buffed

Rubbed to shine

• polishedSmooth, refined, accomplished
• refinedPurified or cultured
• sandedSmoothed with grit

worn · weathered · eroded · rounded · blunted · filed · abraded · burnished · rubbed · ground

gentle

Soft and kind

• tenderSoft or sore
• compassionateShowing concern for sufferers
• mellowedBecame softer, calmer

sympathetic · understanding · kindhearted · affectionate · warm · caring · nurturing · moved · touched · relented

diffused

Spread widely around

• dimmedReduced in brightness
• filteredScreened to remove contaminants
• mutedMade quieter or softer

subdued · gentle · warm · glowing · hazy · veiled · ambient · indirect · dappled · pale

pliable

Capable of bending easily

• suppleFlexing without damage
• plushThick-pile soft fabric
• cushionedMade softer or gentler

padded · spongy · yielding · flexible · malleable · springy · downy · fluffy · velvety · silken

• alteredmodified, changed, altered, edited, revised
• texturessmoothness, smooth, rough, roughness, coarse
• water qualitiesmurky, taste, odor, color, fresh
• sugarcoatedsugarcoated, candy-coated, sweetened, honeyed, sugary
• Bowdlerizedcensored, redacted, sanitized, expurgated, cleaned
• euphemistictactful, polite, mild, delicate, indirect