do-gooder

noun

do-good·​er ˈdü-ˌgu̇-dər 

: an earnest often naive humanitarian or reformer

do-gooding

ˈdü-ˌgu̇-diŋ 

noun or adjective

Examples of do-gooder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Playing do-gooder cop Matt in Heroes is just one milestone on the resume of Greg Grunberg, who has made a name for himself as an affable everyman. — Megan Vick, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2026

But his do-gooder deeds and mental health problems made the workers inside those trendy bars afraid to speak out about their experiences of an allegedly toxic workplace. — Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 2026

Ginny just barely survives on some sad do-gooder part-time job. — Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026

Jury Duty has managed to deceive two unsuspecting do-gooders with civic duty and a company retreat. — Peter White, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above