Motivated by a sincere desire to help or produce a good result.
Reach for it when acknowledging benevolent motive while leaving room to assess the actual effect
The well-intentioned mentor paused her advice when she realized the student needed to be heard first.
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| everyday |
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| warm | |
| professional | |
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playful
means well
Fits when conversational acknowledgment should soften criticism
Careful Means well can sound condescending and should not erase harm.
everyday
Fits when good intent and possible poor execution should both remain visible
Careful Well-meaning often hints more strongly that the action failed or intruded.
warm
Fits when the person's caring nature deserves affectionate praise
Careful Goodhearted judges character, while well-intentioned can describe one choice.
warm
Fits when honesty of feeling is the main reassurance
Careful Sincere motives are not necessarily helpful or morally good.
professional
Fits when concern for others rather than self-interest drives the act
Careful Altruistic overstates well-intentioned action when motives are mixed.
professional
Fits when a consistent ethical standard motivates the choice
Careful Principled action may be strict rather than benevolent.
formal
Fits when a wish to do good accompanies power or charitable action
Careful Benevolent can sound paternal and says less about a specific attempt.
literary
Fits when serious commitment and sincerity are visible
Careful Earnest effort can serve a mistaken or self-centered aim.
well-intentioned effort
The well-intentioned effort improved after residents gained control of the budget.
well-intentioned advice
Well-intentioned advice can still arrive before a person is ready to hear it.
well-intentioned person
A well-intentioned person remains accountable for learning from the outcome.
Keep in mind
Good intent and good impact are separate claims; well-intentioned should never be used to dismiss harm.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Updated
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