do-gooder

noun

do-good·​er ˈdü-ˌgu̇-dər How to pronounce do-gooder (audio)
: 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.
Such a bland do-gooder can’t hold a candle to Slattery’s Leo, a man who happily self-identifies as a bully. Alison Herman, Variety, 15 Aug. 2025 Sure, the do-gooders might be able to do good things with extra tax revenue. The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 12 Aug. 2025 The do-gooders care about real issues like public health, education and the environment. Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2025 One of our most enduring pop culture figures, the super-powered do-gooder has inspired moviegoers, TV viewers, and comic book readers since his invention in 1938. EW.com, 20 July 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 21 Aug. 2025.

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