take the sting out

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allay v.
alleviate v.
assuage v.
lessen v.
lull v.
smooth v.
soothe v.

VERB

allay

Synonyms

STRONGEST

alleviate assuage calm ease lessen mitigate mollify pacify

STRONG

abate compose decrease lighten moderate quiet square

WEAK

cool out make nice play up to pour oil on take the bite out

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aggravate agitate incite increase intensify irritate upset worry worsen

STRONG

enlarge

WEAK

provoke stir

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 edge off

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 edge off

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aggravate agitate dissatisfy incite increase intensify irritate provoke trouble upset worry worsen

STRONG

anger deplete excite

WEAK

exacerbate

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 edge off wind down

Antonyms

STRONGEST

develop enlarge expand extend grow increase intensify irritate lengthen prolong strengthen worsen

STRONG

go up rise stretch

WEAK

raise

VERB

lull

Synonyms

STRONGEST

soothe

STRONG

abate allay balm becalm cease compose cool decrease diminish dwindle ebb fall hush lullaby moderate pacify qualify quell quiet settle slacken soft pedal still stroke subdue subside temper tranquilize wane

WEAK

chill out cool off die down lay back let up put a lid on quiet down take it easy take the edge

Antonyms

STRONG

aggravate agitate arouse continue develop disturb enlarge excite expand extend grow incite increase intensify irritate move prolong raise rise start upset win

WEAK

energize

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 edge off

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 edge off 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

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.

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take the sting out

McIlroy's pre-tournament prediction of being able to take the sting out of Pennsylvania course by smashing his driver as far as he could proved wide of the mark in a disappointing opening round.

From BBC ● May 16, 2026

The exiles thought they finally would be allowed to return home, or at least get enough cash to take the sting out of their displacement.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 28, 2026

Some extra incentive to file your taxes: That refund money could take the sting out of your next trip to the gas station.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 9, 2026

Investors will hope that an uptick in Singapore will take the sting out of the weakness in Macau.

From Barron's ● Jan. 29, 2026

“Little bunny knows everything about everything,” Ayanna said with a roll of her eyes, but she smiled at Chestnutt to take the sting out of her words.

From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia

take the sting out

Example Sentences

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