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

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

As the conservative foil to liberal do-gooder Sandy, his wife Kirsten Cohen (played by Kelly Rowan) was a better representation of the upper-crust Newport Beach population in many ways. — Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Aug. 2026

After finally getting Gotham crime boss Rupert Thorne (Cedric Yarbrough) to stand trial, justice remains stubbornly out of reach for the city’s few stalwart do-gooders. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 2 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above