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

Successive administrations let the old broadcast arms of American government abroad — Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia — slide into well-meaning obsolescence. —Ben Smith, semafor.com, 4 Aug. 2025

The script established the framework with which Henson would go on to parody a vaudeville show from all angles—the divas (Piggy), the technical malfunctions (Crazy Harry, blowing up sets left and right), the well-meaning guy trying to hold the whole ball of crazy together (Kermit). —Sophie Brickman, The Atlantic, 4 Aug. 2025

But instead, people familiar with Trans Heartland told The Star that the organization took money from well-meaning donors and left a pattern of hostile interactions in its wake. —Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 3 Aug. 2025

Even reassurances and hugs from well-meaning strangers, some offering to pray for them, can cause stress. —Chris Ramirez, jsonline.com, 2 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for well-meaning

• careening
• convening
• demeaning
• housecleaning
• machining
• unmeaning
• cleaning
• gleaning
• greening
• keening
• leaning
• meaning

Kids Definition

well-meaning

adjective

well-mean·​ing

-ˈmē-niŋ

: having or based on good intentions