verb

1. To lessen; to palliate; to lessen or weaken the force of; to diminish the conception of, as crime, guilt, faults, ills, accusations, etc.

2. To make thin or slender; to draw out so as to lessen the thickness.

3. To become thinner.

Synonyms: mitigate

adjective

1. That lessens the seriousness of something by providing an excuse.