weakeners
Things that diminish
Weakeners are words or phrases that reduce the force of a statement.
In rhetoric and linguistics, they soften claims or hedge assertions: somewhat, kind of, I think, arguably.
A speaker might add weakeners to sound less absolute or confrontational: That's perhaps a bit too aggressive.
The opposite of intensifiers.
Diminish through persistent friction
- corrodeDestroy through chemical action
- undercutSell cheaper than rivals
- sabotageDeliberate disruption of operations
- subvertSecretly weaken authority
destabilize · impair · compromise · degrade · deteriorate · sap · drain · debilitate
Make less firm
- temperState of mind
- moderateLessen intensity or preside
- cushionStuffed fabric for comfort
- bufferProtective intermediate space
blunt · dull · dampen · mute · ease · alleviate · palliate · soothe
To make smaller
- lessenReduce in degree
- decreaseBecome or make smaller
- lowerReduce or move downward
- reduceMake smaller in degree
shrink · curtail · deplete · downgrade · minimize · taper · wane · ebb
Planted boundary lines
- qualifiersWords limiting scope
- minimizersThings that lessen
- softenersAgents that reduce harshness
- modifiersTerms that adjust others
caveats · disclaimers · sort-of · somewhat · rather · fairly · slightly · perhaps
erode
Diminish through persistent friction
- corrodeDestroy through chemical action
- undercutSell cheaper than rivals
- sabotageDeliberate disruption of operations
subvert · destabilize · impair · compromise · degrade · deteriorate · sap · drain · debilitate · enfeeble
soften
Make less firm
buffer · blunt · dull · dampen · mute · ease · alleviate · palliate · soothe · assuage
diminish
To make smaller
reduce · shrink · curtail · deplete · downgrade · minimize · taper · wane · ebb · decline
hedges
Planted boundary lines
- qualifiersWords limiting scope
- minimizersThings that lessen
- softenersAgents that reduce harshness
modifiers · caveats · disclaimers · sort-of · somewhat · rather · fairly · slightly · perhaps · maybe
thin
Small in diameter
- diluteReduce by adding solvent
- cutSeverance or reduction
- adulterateCorrupt by adding impurities
stretch · dissolve · diffuse · disperse · attenuate · mix · blend · solvent · concentration · solution
weakenersstrengtheners
Agents that add force
fortifiers · reinforcers · intensifiers · enhancers · boosters