1. MOCK   make a violent speech   exclude   tear down   laugh at   Hint Half-n-half Clue   2. MOLLIFY   soothe the anger of   blot out   retract a former statement   reject ungraciously   Half-n-half Clue   3. REBUFF   laugh at   soothe the anger of   reject ungraciously   retract a former statement   Half-n-half Clue   4. NULLIFY   reject ungraciously   negate   nourish   preserve indefinitely   Half-n-half Clue   5. MITIGATE   make less severe   disprove   follow a winding course   negate   Half-n-half Clue   6. NURTURE   consign to inferior position   nourish   confirm formally   narrate   Half-n-half Clue   7. OBLITERATE   blot out   wander without aim   soothe   nourish   Half-n-half Clue