do-gooder

American  

[doo-good-er, -good-] / ˈduˈgʊd ər, -ˌgʊd- /

noun

1. a well-intentioned but naive and often ineffectual social or political reformer.

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do-gooder British  

noun

1. informal a well-intentioned person, esp a naive or impractical one

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Other Word Forms

• do-goodery noun
• do-gooding noun

Etymology

Origin of do-gooder

1925–30, do good + -er ¹

Example Sentences

Pete could be having the worst college reunion ever; or he could be excessively self-conscious, because his chums didn’t immediately greet him as the mature do-gooder he now imagines himself to be.

From Los Angeles Times

Gates’ reluctance to take decisive action at Cascade adds to an emerging portrait of the billionaire philanthropist that is at odds with his image as a roving global do-gooder and champion of women’s empowerment.

From Seattle Times

“Of course, it also makes me suspect that you are a bit of a do-gooder.”

From New York Times

Owens asked the driver to come inside the shop, where the do-gooder upped his order to $4,000.

From Fox News

A do-gooder type — he ran a large social services agency and he seemed to have a rich social life.

From Washington Post