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hagiographical

/ˌhægiəˈgræfɪkəl/
IPA guide

A biography or life story can be described as hagiographical when it is so flattering to the person that they sound like a saint. It makes you roll your eyes — unless of course the person really was a saint.

The adjective hagiographical is derived from the noun hagiography, which referred originally to a story written about a Christian saint, or holy person, to express devotion and inspire faith. More recently, hagiographical has been used to describe any biography that portrays the person in glowing terms, ignoring any faults or weaknesses. A hagiographical book or movie may feature a national hero or someone greatly admired by the author or filmmaker, and is often challenged later by someone seeking to be more honest.

Definitions of hagiographical
  1. adjective
    relating to a biography that idealizes or idolizes the person
    synonyms: hagiographic
  2. adjective
    relating to the biography of a saint, or to the writing of such biographies
    synonyms: hagiographic
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