traduce vs besmirch

traduce and besmirch both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
traduce	No	No	Yes	No
besmirch	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, besmirch is a hypernym of traduce; that is, besmirch is a word with a broader meaning than traduce:

traduce: speak unfavorably about
besmirch: charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone

Other hypernyms of traduce include asperse, calumniate, defame, denigrate, slander, smear, smirch, sully.

traduce (verb)	besmirch (verb)
speak unfavorably about	charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone
	smear so as to make dirty or stained