mean well
idiom
: to want to do good or helpful things : to have good intentions
He means well, but he's not really helping anyone.
Examples of mean well in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There is a risk of controversy when stating anything unfamiliar, so make a point of accepting genuine feedback from critics who actually mean well.
—
Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 29 Jan. 2026
Your children mean well, but everyone requires time to decompress after a stressful day.
—wendy Wisner, Parents, 13 Dec. 2025
People mean well and are gracious.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 23 Nov. 2025
Overwhelming goals, inconsistent routines, and accountability partners who mean well but have their own lives to manage can all contribute to our resolutions falling apart.
—Maha Abouelenein, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mean well
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Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 29 Jan. 2026
Your children mean well, but everyone requires time to decompress after a stressful day.
—wendy Wisner, Parents, 13 Dec. 2025
People mean well and are gracious.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 23 Nov. 2025
Overwhelming goals, inconsistent routines, and accountability partners who mean well but have their own lives to manage can all contribute to our resolutions falling apart.
—Maha Abouelenein, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mean well
Cite this Entry
“Mean well.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mean%20well. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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