well-meaning
adjective
well-mean·ing
ˈwel-ˈmē-niŋ 
1
: having good intentions
well-meaning but misguided idealists
2
: based on good intentions
well-meaning advice
Examples of well-meaning in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Bigger corporations, by contrast, sometimes get stuck in processes—well-meaning but slow.
—
Stephan Lendi, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Best of all though is Reeves, channeling his own 1989 comic past from Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure or a bit of Todd Higgins from Parenthood to bring deadpan delight as the well-meaning but constantly screwing up angel trying to do good but being so bad at it.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 7 Sep. 2025
Parents, even the well-meaning ones, tend to be neglectful, or also dead.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2025
And well-meaning efforts often struggle to keep up.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for well-meaning
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.
Stephan Lendi, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Best of all though is Reeves, channeling his own 1989 comic past from Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure or a bit of Todd Higgins from Parenthood to bring deadpan delight as the well-meaning but constantly screwing up angel trying to do good but being so bad at it.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 7 Sep. 2025
Parents, even the well-meaning ones, tend to be neglectful, or also dead.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2025
And well-meaning efforts often struggle to keep up.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for well-meaning
Cite this Entry
“Well-meaning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/well-meaning. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share