well-meaning

adjective

well-mean·​ing ˈwel-ˈmē-niŋ How to pronounce well-meaning (audio)
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
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.
Emotional monitoring, at its core, is often a well-meaning attempt to protect love. Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025 When the band blows up amid tragedy, Zoe shoves her once-starry persona aside and embraces suburban life with a well-meaning husband and his creepy son, who leers at Cherry. Caryn Ganz, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025 Even well-meaning efforts like Holocaust-education mandates and Shoah memorials ignore the layers and layers of Jewish history and complexity, leaving Jews as convenient abstractions for antisemites and conspiracy theorists. Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2025 In the story, two girls living with a dysfunctional mother in Montreal are taken away from her by well-meaning social workers. Margaret Atwood, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for well-meaning

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of well-meaning was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Well-meaning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/well-meaning. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

well-meaning

adjective
well-mean·​ing
-ˈmē-niŋ
: having or based on good intentions

More from Merriam-Webster on well-meaning

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