traduce vs defame

traduce and defame both are verbs.

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

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

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

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

traduce (verb)	defame (verb)
speak unfavorably about	charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone