tone down
Make less extreme
To tone down something is to make it less intense, extreme, or conspicuous.
You might tone down your language to avoid offending someone, or tone down a bright color scheme to create a calmer room.
The phrase often applies to rhetoric, criticism, or behavior that others find excessive: The editor asked her to tone down the inflammatory passages.
It can also describe softening visual or auditory elements: They toned down the music so guests could talk.
State of mind
- restrainLimit freedom of movement
- curbRaised road margin
- modulateVary pitch or intensity
- checkOrder to pay
adjust · dial back · rein in · scale back · pull back · ease up · hold back · qualify
Make smaller in degree
- lessenReduce in degree
- decreaseBecome or make smaller
- minimizeReduce to smallest extent
- weakenReduce in strength
attenuate · lighten · dilute · lower · cut · pare · trim · taper
Gently ease discomfort
- relaxBecome less tense
- coolCalm or fashionable
- chillCold sensation or relaxation
- settleReach final terms
pacify · placate · defuse · take it easy · decompress · unwind · cool off · keep a lid on
temper
State of mind
check · adjust · dial back · rein in · scale back · pull back · ease up · hold back · qualify · hedge
mute
Without voice or sound
dim · ease · smooth · blunt · mellow · subdue · hush · muffle · temper · modulate
reduce
Make smaller in degree
weaken · attenuate · lighten · dilute · lower · cut · pare · trim · taper
soothe
Gently ease discomfort
settle · pacify · placate · defuse · take it easy · decompress · unwind · cool off · keep a lid on
- calmingcalm, soothe, relax, pacify, ease
- self-controlself-control, restraint, willpower, composure, moderation
- discretiondiscreet, discretion, subtle, understated, unobtrusive
- scaling downscale back, cut back, dial back, taper off, roll back
- softensoften, dampen, mute, muffle, moderate
- sugarcoatingsweeten, soften, gloss over, whitewash, soft-pedal
tone downplay up
Emphasize beyond proportion
exaggerate · overdo · ham up · overstate · embellish
tone downplay up
Emphasize beyond proportion
accentuate · highlight · emphasize · draw attention to · spotlight
down, tone, monotone, tones, intonation, intone, tonal, toner, intoning