lessen the strength of; The fever weakened his body'

become weaker; The prisoner's resistance weakened after seven days'

destroy property or hinder normal operations; The Resistance sabotaged railroad operations during the war

[ Syn: sabotage , undermine , countermine , counteract , subvert ]

reduce the level or intensity or size or scope of; de-escalate a crisis

[ Syn: de-escalate , step down ]

lessen in force or effect; soften a shock; break a fall

[ Syn: dampen , damp , soften , break ]