do-gooder

noun

do-good·​er ˈdü-ˌgu̇-dər How to pronounce do-gooder (audio)
Synonyms of do-goodernext
: an earnest often naive humanitarian or reformer
do-gooding noun or adjective

Examples of do-gooder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Goetz understood this disorder not as the product of scant civic resources or state retreat but rather as the result of liberal misrule—do-gooder bureaucrats, failed social programs, and a city that had coddled the undeserving and the criminal. Heather Ann Thompson, The Atlantic, 26 Jan. 2026 JPMorgan Chase’s Strategic and Resiliency Initiative is do-gooder capital to suit the latest trends. Adam Lashinsky, Washington Post, 6 Jan. 2026 As one of the top do-gooders for a company devoted to good deeds, Altman said he is blessed to be able to branch beyond career and corporate goals to something more substantive. Greg Mellen, Oc Register, 28 Nov. 2025 Resist pressure Scammers who pose as charitable do-gooders often demand immediate payment, while legitimate charities are happy to get a donation at any time. Jill Schlesinger, Mercury News, 24 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for do-gooder

Word History

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of do-gooder was in 1925

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Cite this Entry

“Do-gooder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/do-gooder. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.

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