slash, trim, cut, degrade, lower, crop, curb, shrink, reduce, water down, restrict, thwart, suck out, downgrade, decline, cut down/back, scale back/down, ameliorate, abbreviate, shorten, minimize, blunt, dwarf, prune, pare (down), impoverish, simplify, condense, diminish, detract from

chip away, slash, shave off, trim, flatten, contract, abrade, shed, whittle, chisel, lower, shrink, thin, reduce, narrow, divide, deduct, consume, apportion, skimp, scale back/down, economize, hemorrhage (money/staff), shorten, minimize, lessen, dwarf, prune, pare (down), diminish, cut (back/down), cut costs, slim down (the budget), abridge, stunt, truncate, take away, compact, restrict (growth), ratchet down, subtract, subdivide, miniaturize, foreshorten, rightsize

break off, take a sabbatical, pause, shutter, spend, cease, knock off, backpedal, rest, close one's eyes, lie down, hang back/out, take a breather, fall away/asleep, close (for a period of time), shut down (for a break), come to a standstill, take a break, take a rest

drag, slog through, slacken, plod, crawl, stretch, trail, turn into, drag on, peter out, subside, sputter, decelerate, bog down, suspend, muddle through, slow, lag, flag, dally, dawdle, coast, fall away, wind down, slow down, drag one's feet, draw out, run behind, drag out, hang back, bring up the rear, fall behind, creep, inch, take one's time, lose time, relax the pace, bump along, dilly-dally, straggle

weaken, lapse, expire, erode, wind down, backslide, become void, wear out, revert to, run out of time, retrogress, fall into decline, come to an end

stretch, wait, lengthen, drag something out, suspend, waylay, delay, defer, postpone, procrastinate, extend, drag one's feet, put off, prolong, shelve, reschedule, rearrange, push back, hold off, stand around, sit around