1. excessive or uncritical reverence for one's ancestors or the past; an attitude that idealizes previous generations without acknowledging their faults.
Usage: formal; often used in historical or cultural criticism

Examples

• The historian criticized the filiopietism in the museum's exhibits, which glossed over the darker chapters of the nation's history.
• Some scholars argue that filiopietism prevents us from honestly evaluating the achievements and failures of previous generations.
• The author's filiopietism toward the founding era led her to overlook significant contradictions in their writings.
• Rather than filiopietism, modern education encourages students to examine history with both appreciation and critical thinking.
• The documentary challenged the filiopietism that had long dominated popular understanding of the colonial period.