well-meaning

adjective

well-mean·​ing ˈwel-ˈmē-niŋ How to pronounce well-meaning (audio)
1
: having good intentions
well-meaning but misguided idealists
2
: based on good intentions
well-meaning advice

Examples of well-meaning in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web He’s come to be particularly wary of how well-meaning colleagues, like his friend Ms. Grekin, could play a role in bringing about that delay, for example by amplifying research that emphasizes far-out technological solutions instead of, say, taking steps like curbing emissions. Hiroko Tabuchi Damon Casarez, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2024 But that doesn’t always make for great drama, nor for characters who go deep enough, resulting in a well-meaning film that feels half like a globetrotting Hollywood thriller, half like a long commercial for the UN Refugee Agency. Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Feb. 2024 What the state had sued over wasn’t a few mistakes by otherwise well-meaning people without a sophisticated business background, or a little bit of wishful thinking in estimating properties. Erik Sherman, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 While those are all well-meaning actions, guess what? Boone Ashworth, WIRED, 21 Feb. 2024 The group is essentially a relatable and well-meaning bunch of attractive young people, who hang out in parks in the summer, smoking and sitting around a fire, some dabbling in polyamory, most occupied by their own romantic lives to a similar extent that they are engaged with activism. Catherine Bray, Variety, 17 Feb. 2024 Some have been motivated by well-meaning individuals who are willing to help others, and others have been motivated by the wish to belong to a privileged caste. Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 21 Jan. 2024 But that sentiment serves instead to highlight how this maudlin Japanese drama about a gay man in his 30s coping with love and loss, rarely moves beyond the readymade platitudes that litter its well-meaning narrative. Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 13 Jan. 2024 The incident is just par for the course for Gomez, Hollywood’s busiest—if most well-meaning—gossip girl. Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 11 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'well-meaning.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of well-meaning was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near well-meaning

Cite this Entry

“Well-meaning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/well-meaning. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

well-meaning

adjective
well-mean·​ing
-ˈmē-niŋ
: having or based on good intentions

More from Merriam-Webster on well-meaning

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