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

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

After a disastrous incident turns the public against superheroes, the government creates a superhuman registration act that causes a deep rift among Avengers and other do-gooders along ideological lines. — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 8 July 2026

Their Tom and Jerry are each rescued by do-gooders who eventually fall in love. — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 22 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above