do-gooding

American  

[doo-good-ing] / ˈduˌgʊd ɪŋ /

noun

1. earnestly doing good; focusing on humanitarian causes in a naive and often ineffectual way.

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Etymology

Origin of do-gooding

First recorded in 1935–40; do ¹ ( def. ) + good ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

Although Miranda is merely an intern at Human Rights Watch, she is thrilled about her new position — she’s finally free from corporate law and instead engaged in actual do-gooding.

From New York Times • Aug. 3, 2023

The Sith are the malevolent enemies of the do-gooding Jedi.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 27, 2023

And you can bet it feels cold despite all that warmhearted global do-gooding they say they are doing.

From Washington Post • Jun. 11, 2022

And all along the way, they were aided by lawmakers, who rarely found a church or do-gooding organization they didn’t feel like helping out with a new tax exemption.

From Slate • May 10, 2018

Net-a-Porter is teaming with Jerry and Jessica Seinfeld’s Good + Foundation for a summer of do-gooding.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 7, 2017