• lessen, discourage, decrease, hurt, compress, undermine, taper, dwindle, worsen, play down, disperse, abbreviate, injure, halt, let down, cut back, taper off, contract, dissuade, build down, reduce, demilitarise, dip, constrict, demilitarize, de-escalate, abate, recede, diminish, dissipate, retrench, disarm, subtract, fall, wane, curtail, shorten, weaken, abridge, minify, decline, scatter, lose, condense, downsize, lower.