well-meaning

Modifies a noun

• attempt: Think, for example, of the Commission's well-meaning attempt to rely on market forces to identify reliable credit ratings.
• friend: Some well-meaning friends may even try to stop you!
• parent: His well-meaning parents think that he's running out of time.
• effort: It would be a huge irony if they suffered still more from well-meaning efforts to impose it from outside.
• people: He appeals for funds from well-meaning people to help him continue his stance against corruption in the media.

Modifying Another Word

• however: However well-meaning Labor leaders may appear to be, they always sting you in the end.
• often: Much has been written about the spoiling of old instruments by often well-meaning " improvers " .
• even: In times of crisis, however even well-meaning participants therein very often reveal a discrepancy between word and deed.
• very: Carlisle: I'm sure he's a very well-meaning chap.
• usually: Tourism is a huge source of income so service is usually well-meaning if a tad rustic.
• thoroughly: It doesn't help that the traditional image of ' an environmentalist ' is of a thoroughly well-meaning well-educated middle-class white person.