well-meaning

American

[wel-mee-ning] / ˈwɛlˈmi nɪŋ /

Also well-intentioned

adjective

meaning or intending well; having good intentions.

a well-meaning but tactless person.
Also well-meant proceeding from good intentions.

Her well-meaning words were received in silence.

well-meaning British

adjective

having or indicating good or 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

Etymology

Origin of well-meaning

A Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

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.

“They’re well-meaning folks that just want to be around animals, and they figure, hey, we’ll have an animal sanctuary,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 9, 2026

These are bat bridges, and they are a good example of a well-meaning conservation idea gone wrong.

From Slate • Apr. 28, 2026

There was lots of advice that, while well-meaning, grossly underestimated the magnitude of my predicament.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

Through Greg, Lawrence and Tarses show us that dolt’s opposite, the well-meaning dad who wants to hold his daughter’s hand through life’s tough spots.

From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026

Even better, their well-meaning attempts at matchmaking kept the Sender sisters very well fed.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023