extenuation, mitigation, palliation(noun)

to act in such a way as to cause an offense to seem less serious

extenuation, mitigation(noun)

a partial excuse to mitigate censure; an attempt to represent an offense as less serious than it appears by showing mitigating circumstances

moderation, mitigation(noun)

the action of lessening in severity or intensity

"the object being control or moderation of economic depressions"

mitigation(Noun)

relief; alleviation

Mitigation(noun)

the act of mitigating, or the state of being mitigated; abatement or diminution of anything painful, harsh, severe, afflictive, or calamitous; as, the mitigation of pain, grief, rigor, severity, punishment, or penalty