- a variation of well-meaning.
well-intentioned
Americanadjective
adjective
Etymology
Origin of well-intentioned
First recorded in 1590–1600
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“This proposal is well-intentioned, but misguided,” Nancy Altman, the president of Social Security Works, an advocacy group, told MarketWatch by email.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 24, 2026
Now that we’ve confirmed that a somewhat edgier choice is better than a well-intentioned embarrassment, we should file away this memory and never speak of it again.
From Salon ● Sep. 15, 2026
The church’s turn to taxpayers was likely well-intentioned.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 11, 2026
To backpedal for a moment: While even the most well-intentioned president can’t fix everything that comes across his desk, this one apparently spotted a problem beneath his that he could do something about.
From Slate ● Jun. 5, 2026
Dimple tried not to roll her eyes at Isabelle’s well-intentioned defense.
From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
