This is the 16582nd most frequent Russian word.
сгладить
"Сгладить" means "to smooth out" or "to soften."
In this sentence, 'сгладить' means to mitigate or reduce the severity of an interpersonal issue or awkwardness.
Он попытался сгладить неприятные моменты в разговоре.
He tried to smooth over the awkward moments in the conversation.
Here, 'сгладить' refers to physically making a surface smooth and even in texture.
Шлифовальная машина помогает сгладить поверхность дерева.
The sander helps to smooth the surface of the wood.
In this example, 'сгладить' signifies easing or resolving tensions in a dispute or conflict.