do-gooding

1 8.2

Helping others in a way that makes you seem better than them

noun
/ˈduːˌɡʊdɪŋ/

Offensive

: buenismo

If you are female, rich, and not do-gooding, you will scheme, plot, and subtly kill everyone.

Examples

Oh, Batman, give up this life of excessive do-gooding and join us.

Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders (2016)
She is known for her do-gooding attitude, always looking for ways to assist charities and support others.
If you are female, rich, innocent, and do-gooding, you will be poisoned in the first season.

Blog text (11)
(However, don't forget that parents, as well as children, are a legitimate target for do-gooding.

Blog text (4)
Her do-gooding efforts at the local shelter have made a significant difference in the community.
Many people admire his do-gooding nature, as he often volunteers to help those in need.

Synonyms

kindness

vsdo-gooding

297 1.0

Friendly and generous actions that help or comfort other people

can be more purposeful and public, with earnest or self-righteous tone

generosity

vsdo-gooding

128 2.1

Being kind and ready to give money, time, or help to others

can be similar but often includes a visible earnest attitude or judgmental tone

charity

vsdo-gooding

76 1.4

Being kind and forgiving toward other people

focuses on concrete helping actions rather than just tolerant attitude

philanthropy

vsdo-gooding

35 6.3

A wish to help people by giving money or time to good causes

is broader, covering hands-on helpful acts as well as giving

altruism

vsdo-gooding

24 6.5

Caring about other people's needs more than your own

may include self-righteous intent rather than purely selfless motivation

benevolence

vsdo-gooding

16 6.1

Kind feelings and actions that help other people

is the practical engagement in helping, sometimes judged as self-righteous

act of kindness

vsdo-gooding

14 2.1

A small helpful action someone does to make another person's day better

refers to ongoing or repeated helpful actions, often with earnest motive

selflessness

vsdo-gooding

14 3.9

To care more about other people's needs than your own

can be performed with personal earnestness or self-righteous justification

volunteerism

vsdo-gooding

13 3.5

Giving time and help for free to support other people or causes

emphasizes occasional or personal helpful acts rather than formal unpaid service

helpfulness

vsdo-gooding

3 2.3

Willingness to support other people

involves intentional charitable actions often done with moral zeal

beneficence

vsdo-gooding

Formal

2 8.4

Kind acts that help other people

is the active doing aspect often mixed with earnest or self-righteous tone

unselfishness

vsdo-gooding

2 3.4

Caring about other people and putting their needs before your own

may include public or moralising helping rather than purely selfless concern

loving-kindness

vsdo-gooding

1 5.2

A warm, gentle feeling of care and concern for other people

is broader helping behaviour that may be earnest rather than affectionate

philanthropic effort

vsdo-gooding

1 4.5

Actions that help other people, often by giving money or services

focuses more on individual earnest action and intention rather than organized efforts

kindliness

vsdo-gooding

1 3.2

Being friendly, generous, and caring to other people

is the active practice of helping, sometimes with a judged attitude

do-gooderism

vsdo-gooding

Offensive

9.8

An attitude of trying to help others in a way that seems proud and annoying

is the action of helping often with earnest or self-righteous intent

goody-goodyism

vsdo-gooding

Informal

9.9

A way of behaving that tries too hard to please or follow rules and seems fake

is about active helpfulness rather than merely showing virtue

prosociality

vsdo-gooding

Specialized

9.2

A way of behaving that helps other people and makes the community better

is more about personal helpful acts with a noticeable intention

generousness

vsdo-gooding

3.4

Willingness to give money, time, or help to other people without asking for anything

is the specific act of engaging in helpful activities, sometimes self-righteous

charitableness

vsdo-gooding

5.3

A willingness to give help or money to people in need

stresses the doing of helpful acts often with earnest personal motive

kindheartedness

vsdo-gooding

3.9

A caring and generous attitude toward other people

is more about actively doing help, possibly with moral earnestness

good-naturedness

vsdo-gooding

3.2

A kind, friendly attitude that wants to help others

is more goal‑directed helping that may include self-righteous intent

Antonyms

neglect

100 3.5

Not caring for someone or something that needs care

indifference

71 4.6

Lack of interest or concern about something

How Self-Righteous

missionary zeal

1 7.6

do-gooding

Offensive

1 8.2

volunteerism

13 3.5

charity

408 1.3

Surface Forms

do-gooding singular

do-goodings plural

Morphology

do-gooding = do-good (transparent) = do + good + ing

Formed from the verb 'do-good' plus '-ing'; the meaning 'engaging in doing good' is directly recoverable from the parts though social connotation (earnest/self-righteous) is pragmatic.

Etymology

Do-gooding comes from the simple parts do + good with the action ending -ing, so it literally means 'doing good' or 'helping others'. It is often used in a critical way for help that seems showy or self-important, so that's why do-gooding can mean helping others with good intentions but in a way that feels too proud or annoying.