Which term means to make something less severe or harsh?

The term that means to make something less severe or harsh is "mince." In this context, "mince" can refer to the act of softening the impact of something or making a statement less direct or severe. This usage often appears in discussions where someone may want to avoid being too blunt or harsh in their criticism or feedback. By "mincing" words, a speaker can express their point in a more palatable or cautious manner, thus reducing the intensity or severity of their remarks.

In contrast, "intensify" implies increasing the severity or strength of something, "fortify" means to strengthen or reinforce, and "emphasize" refers to giving particular importance or prominence to something. These terms do not convey the notion of reducing harshness or severity, which is why they are not appropriate choices for this question.