Meanings
comparative more good-hearted · comparative better-hearted · superlative most good-hearted · superlative best-hearted · alternative goodhearted
- idiomaticKind and well-intentioned.
Good-hearted fellows in their way, true to each other, and invariably gentle and courteous to women, is the much-maligned and misunderstood digger.
1887, Harriet W. Daly, Digging, Squatting, and Pioneering Life in the Northern Territory of South Australia, page 1923 more examples
It’s sweet of you to forgive her, Emily dear. You are better-hearted than I am. I’m afraid I could never pardon any one who had made me such a laughing stock.
1925, L[ucy] M[aud] Montgomery, “A Supreme Moment”, in Emily Climbs, New York, N.Y.: A. L. Burt Company, page 130‘My pa is the best-hearted man in all of London,’ Lottie said, spooning pease pudding onto the plates. ‘He’s never turned anyone from the door or walked past a beggar on the streets.’
2010, Dilly Court, chapter 14, in A Mother’s Secret, London: Arrow Books, Random House, published 2011, →ISBN, page 263But Pirates! comes with all the usual Aardman strengths intact, particularly the sense that its characters and creators alike are too good-hearted and sweet to nitpick. The ambition is all in the craft rather than in the storytelling, but it’s hard to say no to the proficiency of that craft, or the mild good cheer behind it.
2012 April 26, Tasha Robinson, “Film: Reviews: The Pirates! Band Of Misfits”, in The Onion AV Club, archived from the original on 28 May 2013
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectiveshowing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Middle Englishgode herted
- Englishgood-hearted
From Middle English gode herted.
More words from Middle English
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
good-hearted. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/good-hearted
“good-hearted.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/good-hearted. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “good-hearted,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/good-hearted.
Source: good-hearted on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.