at cross-purposes
idiom
: in a way that causes confusion or failure because people are working or talking with different goals or purposes
We'll never succeed together if we continue to work at cross-purposes (with each other).
It became clear that they were talking at cross-purposes.
Examples of at cross-purposes in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Federal and state incentives can help, but the programs are often opaque and even at cross-purposes.
—
Stephanie Hanes, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 July 2024
These may all be valid responses to fire at a question about inflation and wage increases, but Biden and his language are at cross-purposes; his arrows don’t fly true.
—Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 26 June 2024
Some refer to the Burmese of Myanmar, which seems a usage at cross-purposes.
—Hannah Beech, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2024
In a movie that ultimately centers on a trinity of female kin at cross-purposes — visiting Lilja, her formidable grandmother and moderately rebellious aunt — the 18-year-old outsider is the catalyst for the revelations and unraveling to come.
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See all Example Sentences for at cross-purposes 
Stephanie Hanes, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 July 2024
These may all be valid responses to fire at a question about inflation and wage increases, but Biden and his language are at cross-purposes; his arrows don’t fly true.
—Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 26 June 2024
Some refer to the Burmese of Myanmar, which seems a usage at cross-purposes.
—Hannah Beech, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2024
In a movie that ultimately centers on a trinity of female kin at cross-purposes — visiting Lilja, her formidable grandmother and moderately rebellious aunt — the 18-year-old outsider is the catalyst for the revelations and unraveling to come.
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See all Example Sentences for at cross-purposes
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'at cross-purposes.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near at cross-purposes
Cite this Entry
“At cross-purposes.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/at%20cross-purposes. Accessed 27 Jul. 2024.
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