WELL-MEANING

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does well-meaning mean? 

• WELL-MEANING (adjective)
  The adjective WELL-MEANING has 2 senses:

1. not unfriendly or threatening

2. marked by good intentions though often producing unfortunate results

  Familiarity information: WELL-MEANING used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• WELL-MEANING (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Not unfriendly or threatening

Synonyms:

unthreatening; well-meaning

Context example:

the exasperation of a...well-meaning cow worried by dogs

Similar:

amicable (characterized by friendship and good will)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Marked by good intentions though often producing unfortunate results

Synonyms:

well-intentioned; well-meaning; well-meant

Context example:

blunt but well-meant criticism

Similar:

intended (resulting from one's intentions)

 Context examples 

Sir Thomas, indeed, was, by this time, not very far from classing Mrs. Norris as one of those well-meaning people who are always doing mistaken and very disagreeable things.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

But she had believed them to be well-meaning, worthy people before; and what difference did this make in the evils of the connexion?

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

True; but you would have destroyed me out of your well-meaning.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

However, the king treated him with tenderness, as a well-meaning man, but of a low contemptible understanding.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

I am extremely sorry for it—for I know him to be a very good-hearted creature; as well-meaning a fellow perhaps, as any in the world.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Mrs. Thorpe was a widow, and not a very rich one; she was a good-humoured, well-meaning woman, and a very indulgent mother.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

With regard to Charles Hayter, she had delicacy which must be pained by any lightness of conduct in a well-meaning young woman, and a heart to sympathize in any of the sufferings it occasioned; but if Henrietta found herself mistaken in the nature of her feelings, the alteration could not be understood too soon.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

I've a special interest in such young bears, and like to show them that I see the warm, honest, well-meaning boys' hearts, in spite of the clumsy arms and legs and the topsy-turvy heads.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

He deprecated her mistaken but well-meaning zeal.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

He had a comfortable home for her, and Emma imagined a very sufficient income; for though the vicarage of Highbury was not large, he was known to have some independent property; and she thought very highly of him as a good-humoured, well-meaning, respectable young man, without any deficiency of useful understanding or knowledge of the world.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)