hagiographic

adjective

ha·​gio·​graph·​ic ˌha-gē-ə-ˈgra-fik 

ˌhā-,

-jē-

variants or less commonly hagiographical

ˌha-gē-ə-ˈgra-fi-kəl 

ˌhā-,

-jē-

1

: of, relating to, or being hagiography

especially : excessively flattering

a hagiographic biography

2

: of or relating to the Hagiographa

Synonyms

• adulatory
• fulsome
• gushing
• gushy
• oily
• oleaginous
• soapy
• unctuous

Examples of hagiographic in a Sentence

a hagiographic portrait of one of the pioneers of the automotive age

Recent Examples on the Web

Andrew Stevens pays loving but not hagiographic tribute to his late mother, famed actress Stella Stevens, in his documentary recently showcased at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival. —Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019

This is no hagiographic portrait of Czechoslovak Radio as a beacon of civic resistance. —Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 30 Oct. 2024

Her book makes a refreshing change from the hagiographic tone of most Bowie biographies, said John Aizlewood on iNews. —The Week Staff, theweek, 6 June 2024

Succession after the prophet’s death was a far more complicated affair than the popular hagiographic accounts indicate. —Mohammed Ayoob, Foreign Affairs, 3 Apr. 2016

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1652, in the meaning defined at sense 2