traduce
verb
tra·duce trə-ˈdüs 
-ˈdyüs
traduced; traducing
transitive verb
1
: to expose to shame or blame by means of falsehood and misrepresentation
2
: violate, betray
traduce a principle of law
traducement
trə-ˈdüs-mənt
noun -ˈdyüs-
traducer noun
Did you know?
Traduce is one of a number of English synonyms that you can choose when you need a word that means "to injure by speaking ill of." Choose traduce when you want to stress the deep personal humiliation, disgrace, and distress felt by the victim. If someone doesn't actually lie, but makes statements that injure by specific and often subtle misrepresentations, malign may be the more precise choice. To make it clear that the speaker is malicious and the statements made are false, calumniate is a good option. But if you need to say that certain statements represent an attempt to destroy a reputation by open and direct abuse, vilify is the word you want.
Synonyms
- breach
- break
- contravene
- fracture
- infringe (on or upon)
- offend
- transgress
- violate
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
He was traduced in the press. a law that traduces one of our most cherished rights: the right to privacy
Recent Examples on the Web In Philip’s case, the myth was the good Jewish boy traduced by inner anarchy. 
Benjamin Taylor, The Atlantic, 21 Apr. 2020 Authors and illustrators are being flamed online and having their reputations traduced and their careers threatened for transgressing the capricious new standards of ideological purity. Meghan Cox Gurdon, WSJ, 31 Jan. 2020 The site functions first as a watchdog to the government of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, a profane populist who not only traduces norms but also urges the assassination of Filipino citizens in the name of combatting drugs. Karl Vick, Time, 12 Dec. 2019 But though subsequently traduced as extreme, Friedman’s position had a fair amount of give in it. The Economist, 22 Aug. 2019 Think of Lucrezia Borgia, traduced by slander and gossip, and of Isabella d’Este, greedy for art. Sarah Dunant, New York Times, 1 June 2018 The idea of someone who works directly for the Trump White House supervising the bureau traduces its entire purpose. Kimberly Harrington, The New Yorker, 24 July 2017 Partly, there’s the tonic shock of encountering again, in person, works that are traduced by reproduction, which muffles their keynotes of material, touch, and scale. Peter Schjeldahl, The New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2017 Some players’ records reflect abilities enhanced by acts of bad character — surreptitious resorts to disreputable chemistry that traduces sportsmanship. George F. Will, The Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2017 See More
Benjamin Taylor, The Atlantic, 21 Apr. 2020 Authors and illustrators are being flamed online and having their reputations traduced and their careers threatened for transgressing the capricious new standards of ideological purity. Meghan Cox Gurdon, WSJ, 31 Jan. 2020 The site functions first as a watchdog to the government of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, a profane populist who not only traduces norms but also urges the assassination of Filipino citizens in the name of combatting drugs. Karl Vick, Time, 12 Dec. 2019 But though subsequently traduced as extreme, Friedman’s position had a fair amount of give in it. The Economist, 22 Aug. 2019 Think of Lucrezia Borgia, traduced by slander and gossip, and of Isabella d’Este, greedy for art. Sarah Dunant, New York Times, 1 June 2018 The idea of someone who works directly for the Trump White House supervising the bureau traduces its entire purpose. Kimberly Harrington, The New Yorker, 24 July 2017 Partly, there’s the tonic shock of encountering again, in person, works that are traduced by reproduction, which muffles their keynotes of material, touch, and scale. Peter Schjeldahl, The New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2017 Some players’ records reflect abilities enhanced by acts of bad character — surreptitious resorts to disreputable chemistry that traduces sportsmanship. George F. Will, The Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2017 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin traducere to lead across, transfer, degrade, from tra-, trans- trans- + ducere to lead — more at tow entry 1
First Known Use
1573, in the meaning defined at sense 1
traducing 1 of 3
noun
as in defaming
the making of false statements that damage another's reputation this endless traducing of candidates has got to stop, or the public will lose all faith in the electoral process Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- defaming
- libeling
- libelling
- libel
- defamation
- smearing
- maligning
- slander
- vilifying
- calumny
- criticism
- blackening
- vilification
- calumniation
- censure
- attack
- contempt
- abuse
- aspersing
- character assassination
- smear
- malice
- aspersion
- vituperation
- denunciation
- innuendo
- backbiting
- invective
- detraction
- mud
- spite
- disdain
- maliciousness
- disparagement
- denigration
- scorn
- spitefulness
- malignity
- meanness
- malevolence
- hatefulness
- hatchet job
- venom
- muck
- malignancy
- belittlement
- viciousness
- despite
- spleen
- nastiness
- cattiness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- praise
- respect
- esteem
- commendation
- honor
- applause
- acclaim
- flattery
- veneration
- reverence
- worship
- adoration
- accolade
- adulation
traducing
2 of 3adjective
as in maligning
Synonyms & Similar Words
- maligning
- vilifying
- invidious
- objectionable
- disparaging
- spiteful
- malicious
- uncomplimentary
- hateful
- depreciatory
- malevolent
- derogatory
- denigratory
- unflattering
- calumnious
- unfavorable
- depreciative
- erroneous
- slanderous
- defamatory
- libelous
- detractive
- untrue
- scandalous
- inaccurate
- incorrect
- denigrative
- inexact
- libellous
- unsound
- off
- invalid
- wrong
- false
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- favorable
- complimentary
- appreciative
- laudatory
- eulogistic
- correct
- true
- sound
- accurate
- commendatory
- adulatory
- valid
- right
- hagiographical
- hagiographic
- factual
- errorless
traducing
3 of 3verb
1
as in violating
to fail to keep a law that traduces one of our most cherished rights: the right to privacy Synonyms & Similar Words
- violating
- breaking
- offending
- contravening
- breaching
- transgressing
- fracturing
- ignoring
- disobeying
- neglecting
- slighting
- disregarding
- flouting
- rebelling
- dismissing
- scorning
- resisting
- infringing (on or upon)
- withstanding
- overlooking
- defying
- overpassing
- passing over
- tuning out
- blowing off
- pooh-poohing
- poohing
- shrugging off
- brushing (off)
- winking (at)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- observing
- following
- obeying
- serving
- complying (with)
- conforming (to)
- hearing
- regarding
- yielding (to)
- submitting (to)
- attending
- minding
- watching
- marking
- noting
- noticing
- listening (to)
- surrendering (to)
- heeding
- deferring (to)
2
as in libeling
to make untrue and harmful statements about my opponent in this campaign may villainously traduce me, but I will not stoop to his level Synonyms & Similar Words
- libeling
- libelling
- smearing
- disgracing
- slandering
- maligning
- calumniating
- defaming
- humiliating
- vilifying
- discrediting
- denigrating
- shaming
- disparaging
- blackening
- belittling
- aspersing
- detracting
- degrading
- dishonoring
- disdaining
- debasing
- abasing
- humbling
- scorning
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- exalting
- respecting
- honoring
- praising
- commending
- glorifying
- applauding
- acclaiming
- admiring
- regarding
- esteeming
- worshiping
- worshipping
- adoring
- revering
- venerating