If you say that a person or their actions are well-meaning, you mean that they intend to be helpful or kind but they are unsuccessful or cause problems.
He is a well-meaning but ineffectual leader.
Even well-meaning attempts at conservation can bring problems.
well-meaning in British English
adjective(well meaning when postpositive)
having or indicating good or benevolent intentions, usually with unfortunate results
well-meaning in American English
(ˈwɛlˈminɪŋ)
adjective
1.
having good or kindly intentions
2.
said or done with good intentions, but often unwisely or ineffectually
: also ˈwell-ˈmeant (ˈwɛlˈmɛnt)
Examples of 'well-meaning' in a sentence
well-meaning
What exactly do these well-meaning people want me to say?
The Sun (2013)
Was it well-meaning health advice that has raised a generation of allergy sufferers?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Medics fear well-meaning friends may have taken food into him because he was hungry.
The Sun (2010)
The sport was taken out to foreign countries by well-meaning people eager to share its pleasures.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The point of wedding lists is simply that money should not be wasted by well-meaning friends and relatives.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Quietly getting the financial facts for yourself works much better than listening to the contradictory advice of well-meaning friends.
The Sun (2016)
I went down there and spent ages interviewing the rather dopey and well-meaning young people present.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
I remember well-meaning people saying that rain is lucky for a marriage.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In short, good intentions and well-meaning ideas only go so far.
Christianity Today (2000)
Talk to those kind, well-meaning parents of yours.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Their well-meaning advice was misplaced.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In all you do, it is time to rely on facts not the opinions of well-meaning friends.
The Sun (2010)
Getting cash facts for yourself rather than relying on others' well-meaning advice is the smartest move to make today.
The Sun (2010)
You'll probably have some well-meaning friends who try to push you into a new relationship before the ashes of your marriage are properly cold.
Butterworth, Jane Why Am I Afraid to Divorce? (1994)
In other languages
well-meaning
British English: well-meaning ADJECTIVE
If you say that a person or their actions are well-meaning, you mean that they intend to be helpful or kind but they are unsuccessful or cause problems.