Humorize

There are hundreds of terms for masturbation in men such as "spanking the monkey" or "charming the snake," which serve to humorize but also to avoid directly discussing the topic.

[…] that were invented by the servicemen and women to undercut, satirize, humorize, and ironize their bleak situation, and to "evoke the cant of horse-age military supply."

That is, in both subtle and blatant ways, utterances report, assert, confirm, claim, doubt, deny, imply, suggest, hint, request, command, forbid, humorize, belittle, pronounce, decree, and so on.

[…] to my family and friends who will understand my candor, my sarcastic licks, intensity in openness and my own unique way to “humorize” life's experiences.

I was able to humorize the situation and make it not sound so serious to her.