hagiographic
Uncritically glorifying someone
Hagiographic describes writing that idealizes its subject, presenting them as saintly or heroic while glossing over flaws.
The word comes from hagiography—biographical accounts of saints—and extends to any uncritical, reverential treatment: The documentary was hagiographic, ignoring the CEO's well-documented failures.
The tone is usually dismissive, suggesting the work lacks honesty or depth.
Praising to excess
- romanticizedMade more appealing than reality
- mythologizedMade into legend
- embellishedDecorated or exaggerated
- exaggeratedMade larger than reality
flattering · laudatory · eulogistic · panegyric · aggrandized · ennobling · heroizing · lionizing
Written life account
- memoirWritten personal recollection
- profileSide-facing outline
- chronicleOrdered historical record
- narrativeAccount of events
documentary · portrait · tribute · obituary · retrospective · authorized · commemorative · testimonial
Lacking discerning judgment
- one-sidedUnfairly weighted toward one
- biasedUnfairly favoring one side
- whitewashedConcealed with false appearance
- sanitizedCleansed of contaminants
glossing · partial · unquestioning · apologetic · exculpatory · selective · deferential · obsequious
Canonized religious figures
- martyrdomSuffering for conviction
- beatificationDeclaring someone among blessed
- canonizationOfficial declaration of sainthood
- miraclesSupernatural extraordinary events
relics · piety · holiness · sanctity · veneration · devotion · halos · intercession
glorifying
Praising to excess
- romanticizedMade more appealing than reality
- mythologizedMade into legend
- embellishedDecorated or exaggerated
exaggerated · flattering · laudatory · eulogistic · panegyric · aggrandized · ennobling · heroizing · lionizing · adulatory
biography
Written life account
narrative · documentary · portrait · tribute · obituary · retrospective · authorized · commemorative · testimonial · celebratory
uncritical
Lacking discerning judgment
- one-sidedUnfairly weighted toward one
- biasedUnfairly favoring one side
- whitewashedConcealed with false appearance
sanitized · glossing · partial · unquestioning · apologetic · exculpatory · selective · deferential · obsequious · fawning
saints
Canonized religious figures
- martyrdomSuffering for conviction
- beatificationDeclaring someone among blessed
- canonizationOfficial declaration of sainthood
miracles · relics · piety · holiness · sanctity · veneration · devotion · halos · intercession · blessed
hagiographiccritical
Expressing disapproval or importance
scathing · balanced · objective · analytical · skeptical
hagiographichonest
Free from deception
truthful · candid · unvarnished · unidealized · frank
hagiographicdefamatory
Harming someone's good name
libelous · scurrilous · vitriolic · excoriating · denunciatory