well-intentioned

[wel-in-ten-shuh nd]

See more synonyms for well-intentioned on Thesaurus.com

adjective

well-meaning.

Origin of well-intentioned

First recorded in 1590–1600

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for well-intentioned

Contemporary Examples

What you see is a massive, well-intentioned, legal junk pile.
Red Tape Is Strangling Good Samaritans
Philip K. Howard
December 27, 2014
This was not a musical performance, per se, but you bet your ass this was a “performance”—albeit a well-intentioned and noble one.
Butts, ‘Bang Bang’ & Beyoncé: The Craziest MTV Video Music Awards Moments
Kevin Fallon
August 25, 2014
And as with all cheerful, well-intentioned memes, the Challenge has provoked some good old-fashioned political trolling.
Ice Bucket Challenge Leads to Political Trolling
Asawin Suebsaeng
August 21, 2014
Unfortunately, this can result in sending a well-intentioned but perilous message.
'Genie, You're Free': Suicide Is Not Liberation
Russell Saunders
August 12, 2014
To his credit, the well-intentioned pup responds to her cries by burying the kid in toys.
Dancing Grandpas, Morgan Freeman Impressions, and More Viral Videos
Jack Holmes
July 27, 2014

Historical Examples

As we do, we must not repeat the well-intentioned errors of our past.
United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches
Various
He was not a clever boy, but nothing could exceed his well-intentioned industry.
St. Winifred's
Frederic W. Farrar
Understand, they were well-intentioned and enterprising fellows.
Change in the Village
(AKA George Bourne) George Sturt
Such men, well-intentioned though they might be, were hindrances to progress.
A Far Country, Complete
Winston Churchill
But our well-intentioned mistake was not a sin and we have no need of a scape-goat.
Stanley in Africa
James P. Boyd

British Dictionary definitions for well-intentioned

well-intentioned

adjective (well intentioned when postpositive)

having or indicating benevolent intentions, usually with unfortunate results

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for well-intentioned

adj.

1590s, from well (adv.) + intentioned (see intention).

well-intentioned

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}well-intentioned

Related Words

Examples from the Web for well-intentioned

Contemporary Examples

What you see is a massive, well-intentioned, legal junk pile.

This was not a musical performance, per se, but you bet your ass this was a “performance”—albeit a well-intentioned and noble one.

And as with all cheerful, well-intentioned memes, the Challenge has provoked some good old-fashioned political trolling.

Unfortunately, this can result in sending a well-intentioned but perilous message.

To his credit, the well-intentioned pup responds to her cries by burying the kid in toys.

Historical Examples

As we do, we must not repeat the well-intentioned errors of our past.

He was not a clever boy, but nothing could exceed his well-intentioned industry.

Understand, they were well-intentioned and enterprising fellows.

Such men, well-intentioned though they might be, were hindrances to progress.

But our well-intentioned mistake was not a sin and we have no need of a scape-goat.

well-intentioned

Word Origin and History for well-intentioned

adj.

Origin of well-intentioned