lievähdyttää

lievähdyttää is a Finnish verb that translates to "to alleviate," "to relieve," or "to ease." It is used to describe the act of making something less severe, painful, or intense. This can apply to physical discomfort, emotional distress, or difficult situations.

The verb can be used in various contexts. For example, one might say "lääke lievittää kipua" which means "the medicine alleviates pain." Similarly, it can be used for emotional states, such as "hän yritti lievittää suruaan" translating to "he/she tried to ease their sorrow." The concept extends to situations as well, for instance, "toimet lievittävät taloudellista ahdinkoa" meaning "the measures alleviate financial hardship."

The root of the verb is "lievä," meaning "mild" or "slight." Therefore, "lievähdyttää" inherently carries the meaning of reducing something from a more severe state to a milder one. It suggests a process of lessening intensity or severity.

The antonym of lievähdyttää would be verbs that indicate an increase or worsening of a condition. While there isn't a single direct opposite, words like "pahentaa" (to worsen) or "lisätä" (to increase) convey a contrary meaning. The general idea is to move from a negative or uncomfortable state towards a more neutral or positive one.