hagiography

noun

Definition of hagiographynext
as in biography
disapproving a book about someone's life that makes it seem better than it really is or was a hagiography of the leader written by one of his closest confidants

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hagiography The current administration is engaged in an effort to bowdlerize American history, stripping away complexity in favor of easy myth and hagiography, not to mention the attempt to whitewash more recent events. — John Swansburg, The Atlantic, 15 June 2026 Ferrer’s memoirs are nuanced and deeply insightful, if sometimes a little too close to hagiography. — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 15 May 2026 Today’s stars go to war with haters, but Dylan takes aim at venerators, seeking to jam the gears of a hagiography machine that’s been clanking and wheezing since 1962. — New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026 Super Nintendo, as the title suggests, is a hagiography. — Alexander Kaplan, The Washington Examiner, 20 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hagiography
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hagiography
  1. biography
  2. memoir
Noun
  • Something is missing in Republican gubernatorial candidate Ryan Fazio’s biography, Democrats say.
    — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Stubb’s biography, personality and vision have earned him a sizable and influential global audience.
    — John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of biography
Noun
  • Written by Douglas, Shane Salerno and me, the memoir was released Tuesday by Grand Central Publishing.
    — Michael Douglas, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Things ranging from how-tos to memoirs to niche academic texts.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of memoir

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hagiographies
hagiography
hagridden
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Cite this Entry

“Hagiography.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hagiography. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on hagiography

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hagiography

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