WELL-MEANT

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does well-meant mean? 

• WELL-MEANT (adjective)
  The adjective WELL-MEANT has 1 sense:

1. marked by good intentions though often producing unfortunate results

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

 Dictionary entry details 

• WELL-MEANT (adjective)

Sense 1

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 

In such combats, as well as in the more formal sports of the tilting-yard, Tranter had won a name for strength and dexterity which had caused Norbury to utter his well-meant warning.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Had she tried to speak, or had she been conscious of half Mrs. Jennings's well-meant but ill-judged attentions to her, this calmness could not have been maintained; but not a syllable escaped her lips; and the abstraction of her thoughts preserved her in ignorance of every thing that was passing before her.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

In vain were the well-meant condescensions of Sir Thomas, and all the officious prognostications of Mrs. Norris that she would be a good girl; in vain did Lady Bertram smile and make her sit on the sofa with herself and pug, and vain was even the sight of a gooseberry tart towards giving her comfort; she could scarcely swallow two mouthfuls before tears interrupted her, and sleep seeming to be her likeliest friend, she was taken to finish her sorrows in bed.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)