traduce
Speak falsely against
To traduce is to speak falsely and maliciously about someone, damaging their reputation: He was traduced by political opponents who spread lies about his business dealings.
The word is formal and literary, suggesting deliberate slander rather than casual gossip.
Unlike merely criticizing, traducing implies willful distortion of the truth.
Spoken false defamation
- libelPrinted defamation
- calumniateSpread false damaging statements
- vilifyAttack someone's reputation
- malignAttack someone's reputation
defame · smear · denigrate · disparage · besmirch · asperse · calumny · defamation
Twist from original form
- falsifyDistort the truth
- misrepresentDepict inaccurately or falsely
- twistRotating motion or surprise
- garbleDistort into confusion
pervert · misstate · mischaracterize · skew · warp · color · misquote · misreport
Loss of honor
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- discreditHarm another's reputation
- dishonorLoss of respect
- humiliateCause painful shame
degrade · debase · stigmatize · taint · stain · blemish · reproach · sully
Violate a trust
- treacheryDeliberate violation of trust
- disloyaltyBreach of allegiance
- perfidyDeliberate breach of trust
- double-crossTreacherous deception of partner
backstab · treason · betrayal · Judas · sellout · faithlessness · turncoat · two-faced
slander
Spoken false defamation
- libelPrinted defamation
- calumniateSpread false damaging statements
- vilifyAttack someone's reputation
malign · defame · smear · denigrate · disparage · besmirch · asperse · calumny · defamation · backbite
distort
Twist from original form
- falsifyDistort the truth
- misrepresentDepict inaccurately or falsely
- twistRotating motion or surprise
garble · pervert · misstate · mischaracterize · skew · warp · color · misquote · misreport · belie
disgrace
Loss of honor
humiliate · degrade · debase · stigmatize · taint · stain · blemish · reproach · sully · infamy
betray
Violate a trust
- treacheryDeliberate violation of trust
- disloyaltyBreach of allegiance
- perfidyDeliberate breach of trust
double-cross · backstab · treason · betrayal · Judas · sellout · faithlessness · turncoat · two-faced
- disparagementdefame, denigrate, disparage, malign, slander
- defamationslander, libel, defamation, defamatory statement, defaming