abate allay alleviate arrest assuage attemper backpedal backwater bank the fire block blunt bog down boycott brake bridle chasten check clip the wings confine constrain contain control cool cool off curb curtail curtail expenses cut back cut corners cut down damp dampen de-emphasize deaden deadlock decelerate decrease delay detain diminish dompt downplay drag draw rein dull ease ease off ease up enjoin extenuate go on strike go out govern guard halt hang up hinder hold hold at bay hold back hold fast hold in hold in check hold in leash hold out hold up impede inhibit keep keep back keep from keep in keep in check keep under control keep within bounds lag lay lay under restraint lenify lessen let down let up let up on lighten lock out lose ground lose momentum lose speed make late mire mitigate moderate modulate obstruct obtund palliate pare down expenses picket play down prohibit pull pull in qualify reduce reduce the temperature reef rein rein in relax restrain retard retrench revolt roll back set back shut it down sit down slack slack off slack up slacken slow slow up smother snub sober sober down soften stall stay stifle stop straiten strike stymie subdue suppress take a reef take in sail tame temper throttle down tone down tune down unbend underplay unlax unwind walk out weaken withhold