well-meant
1
3.9
- adjective
- /ˈwɛlˌmɛnt/
:
bien intencionado
- Although his intentions were well-meant, the outcome was quite different from what he expected.
- well-meant efforts
- such well-meant
Examples
-
Arguably, such treatment, however well meant, amounts to child abuse.
Academic text (1992) -
She offered a well-meant suggestion that unfortunately wasn't practical.
-
Funeral flowers, to Hope's mind, are expensive but well-meant.
Fiction book (1997) -
While these statements are often, on a conscious level, well-meant, what I hear as a woman in those statements is different.
Blog text (16) -
This campaign is well-meant, and I don't think anyone doubted that.
Blog text (33) -
During the recent Hyakutake apparition, scientists' hyperbole, however well meant, may have made things worse.
Academic text (1996) -
Prolonging her predicament out of a well-meant but ultimately harmful belief that God wants the baby to happen.
Blog text (13) -
I've never minded, and as long as they are willing to receive some gentle and well-meant correction, it's all good to me.
Blog text (12) -
In addition, well-meant government intentions are often negated by special-interest and rent-seeking behaviors.
Academic text (1993) -
His advice was well-meant, but it didn’t help the situation at all.
Synonyms
28
3.7
Wanting to help others even when the result causes problems
28
4.6
Trying to help but sometimes making things worse
How Well-Intentioned
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Well-meant combines well ('in a good way') and meant (past of 'mean', 'to intend'). So it describes an action that was 'intended to be kind or helpful', even when it does not work out.