well-meaning
adjective
well-mean·ing
ˈwel-ˈmē-niŋ 
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
Five Leadership Moves That Create Betrayal Even well-meaning leaders can fracture trust.
—
Justin Patton, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
Even well-meaning people with strong cases are incentivized to avoid coming to immigration hearings and instead try to evade the authorities and fall out of compliance.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 23 May 2025
From the Archives Back in 2024, the Ethicist answered a similar question about well-meaning unsolicited gestures.
—Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 21 May 2025
But Eleanor has backed herself into an awful corner, and in some ways, so too has Johansson’s film, which is stuck trying to impart sage wisdom through the lens of a truly hideous (if well-meaning) lie.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for well-meaning
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.
Justin Patton, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
Even well-meaning people with strong cases are incentivized to avoid coming to immigration hearings and instead try to evade the authorities and fall out of compliance.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 23 May 2025
From the Archives Back in 2024, the Ethicist answered a similar question about well-meaning unsolicited gestures.
—Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 21 May 2025
But Eleanor has backed herself into an awful corner, and in some ways, so too has Johansson’s film, which is stuck trying to impart sage wisdom through the lens of a truly hideous (if well-meaning) lie.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for well-meaning
Cite this Entry
“Well-meaning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/well-meaning. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share