Russian-English translations for смягчи́ть

• lighten
  to lighten an apartment with lamps or gas; to lighten the streets
  Sorrow can be lightened by being openly brought out
• relax
  to relax a rope or cord
  to relax the muscles or sinews
  to relax discipline
• soften
  Soften the butter before beating in the sugar.
  Before the invasion, we softened up the enemy with the artillery.
  Having second thoughts, I softened my criticism.