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Definitions

take the edge off

VERB
alleviate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
allay assuage ease mitigate
STRONG
lighten mollify pacify remediate soft pedal
WEAK
pour oil on take the bite out take the sting out
Antonyms
STRONGEST
increase intensify irritate worsen
STRONG
agitate depress incite upset
WEAK
aggravate heighten magnify
VERB
assuage
Synonyms
STRONGEST
allay alleviate appease lessen mitigate mollify pacify placate quench sate satisfy soften temper
STRONG
calm compose conciliate cool ease fill lighten lull moderate palliate propitiate quiet still surfeit sweeten tranquilize
WEAK
make nice pour oil on take the sting out
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aggravate agitate dissatisfy incite increase intensify irritate provoke trouble upset worry worsen
STRONG
anger deplete excite
WEAK
exacerbate
VERB
blunt
Synonyms
STRONGEST
dampen debilitate sap soften undermine water down weaken
STRONG
attenuate benumb deaden desensitize enfeeble numb obtund
WEAK
hebetate
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid assist encourage help strengthen
STRONG
enliven increase
WEAK
needle point sharpen
VERB
calm
Synonyms
STRONGEST
allay alleviate appease assuage cool mitigate mollify pacify placate quiet relax relieve settle soothe steady
STRONG
balm becalm compose hush lull quieten sedate soft pedal still stroke tranquilize
WEAK
cool it cool out lay back simmer down take it easy
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aggravate agitate incite increase intensify irritate provoke trouble upset worry worsen
STRONG
excite
WEAK
anger disquiet distract inflame outrage rouse ruffle
VERB
lessen
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abate curtail decrease dilute diminish dwindle ease erode impair lighten minimize mitigate narrow shrink slacken taper off weaken
STRONG
abridge amputate attenuate clip close contract crop cut de-escalate decline degrade downsize drain minify moderate soft pedal taper thin truncate
WEAK
become smaller cut back die down grow less roll back slack up slow down take the bite out take the sting out wind down
Antonyms
STRONGEST
develop enlarge expand extend grow increase intensify irritate lengthen prolong strengthen worsen
STRONG
go up rise stretch
WEAK
raise
VERB
mitigate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
allay alleviate assuage blunt dull ease lessen mollify reduce relieve remediate soften soothe temper weaken
STRONG
abate appease calm cool extenuate moderate modify pacify palliate placate quiet remit subdue tranquilize
WEAK
come together meet halfway tone down
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aggravate agitate extend increase intensify irritate provoke raise strengthen trouble upset worry worsen
STRONG
incite rouse
VERB
pacify
Synonyms
STRONGEST
allay ameliorate assuage mitigate mollify placate quell repress smooth over soothe tame
STRONG
calm chasten compose con conciliate cool dulcify grease lull moderate propitiate qualify quiet relieve silence soft pedal soften square still stroke subdue sweeten temper tranquilize
WEAK
bury the hatchet butter up fix up kiss and make up lay back make peace pacificate put the lid on
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aggravate agitate incite intensify irritate provoke upset worry worsen
STRONG
anger arouse excite rouse trouble
VERB
salve
Synonyms
STRONGEST
alleviate assuage mollify pacify unburden
STRONG
ally balm becalm calm ease heal quiet relieve settle soften still
WEAK
calm down cool off pour oil on smooth down take the sting out of untrouble
Antonyms
STRONGEST
agitate incite upset
STRONG
harm hurt injure irritate move trouble worry
VERB
smooth
Synonyms
STRONGEST
alleviate ease facilitate iron out mellow mitigate soften
STRONG
allay appease assuage calm comfort cool cool out extenuate mollify palliate pat stroke
WEAK
pave the way take the sting out
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aggravate increase intensify irritate worsen
STRONG
agitate annoy exasperate incite provoke trouble upset worry
VERB
soothe
Synonyms
STRONGEST
allay alleviate appease assuage cool mitigate mollify pacify relieve soften
STRONG
becalm cheer compose console dulcify help hush lighten lull quiet quieten settle square still stroke subdue tranquilize unburden
WEAK
balm butter up calm down cool off make nice make up patch things up play up to pour oil on smooth down take the sting out untrouble
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aggravate agitate incite increase intensify irritate provoke trouble upset worry worsen
STRONG
arouse bring down depress discourage disturb excite hurt move
WEAK
distress
VERB
temper
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abate allay alleviate assuage cool curb dilute ease lessen mitigate mollify restrain soften soothe tone down weaken
STRONG
adjust admix modulate pacify palliate relieve revamp soft pedal switch transmogrify
WEAK
chill out cool out fine tune make reasonable take the bite out of take the sting out of
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aggravate agitate enlarge extend incite increase intensify irritate magnify provoke raise strengthen trouble upset worry worsen
STRONG
accuse blame condemn
WEAK
bend excite flex infuriate soften

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Stellantis tries to take the edge off for workers hoofing it from outer perimeter lots, shuttling them in from some locations.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

A decline in inflation expectations tends to be associated with the possibility of a weaker economy, which would theoretically take the edge off price pressures.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 17, 2025

To come in and just, like you said, take the edge off and get to laugh a little bit.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 5, 2025

A couple of days before the 24th, not knowing what might happen of course, I asked my friend to take a picture of me with the decorations - to take the edge off.

From BBC • Feb. 22, 2023

“Not funny,” said Constance, but the joke did take the edge off her fury, and she said no more.

From "The Mysterious Benedict Society" by Trenton Lee Stewart