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.
Even if well-meaning companies can make safe AIs, that doesn’t by itself stop the creation and proliferation of unsafe AIs. Billy Perrigo, Time, 15 Apr. 2025 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 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 30 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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