goodhearted

Goodhearted is an adjective used to describe someone who is kind, generous, and well meaning. A goodhearted person is typically sympathetic, eager to help others, and inclined toward benevolent actions. The term often emphasizes the quality of one's disposition rather than a specific deed.

The word is a compound of good and hearted. It has appeared in English since the 19th century. Traditional usage tends to hyphenate the form as good-hearted; in contemporary writing, the closed form goodhearted is also encountered, though some editors prefer the hyphenated version. Style guides vary on preference.

In usage, goodhearted describes people or actions that reflect kindness and generosity. It is commonly used in character descriptions, reviews, and everyday speech. Phrases include a goodhearted gesture, a goodhearted nature, or a goodhearted person. The term can carry a mildly sentimental tone depending on context.

Related terms include benevolent, compassionate, kindhearted, and empathetic. Goodhearted is often aligned with positive moral judgments and is generally used in favorable descriptions of character.