Attenuant is defined as something that reduces the strength or severity of something else. There are several synonyms for attenuant, including moderating, weakening, lessening, softening, tempering, mitigating, and alleviating. All of these words imply a sense of reduction or minimization, whether it be physical or emotional. For example, a moderating influence might help to calm down a heated argument, while a mitigating factor could lessen the severity of a criminal sentence. A weakening force might reduce the power of a particular device, or a softening touch might make a tough situation easier to handle. Regardless of their specific connotations, all of these words have in common their ability to attenuate or reduce the impact of something else.