cross-purpose
noun
cross-pur·pose
ˈkrȯs-ˈpər-pəs 
: a purpose usually unintentionally contrary to another purpose of oneself or of someone or something else
—usually used in plural
the two were always working at cross-purposes
Examples of cross-purpose in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And the mutual distrust born of past crises keeps them working at cross-purposes.
—
Jesse Humpal, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Oct. 2025
The Georgia raid is yet another example of this administration working at cross-purposes.
—Patricia Lopez, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
The demise of the West as a reliable geopolitical unit will increasingly see the United States and its former partners acting at cross-purposes and finding themselves on the opposite sides of debates.
—Stewart Patrick, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2025
Fragmented mental models mean teams interpret current reality differently and then act at cross-purposes.
—Thomas Lim, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Two tentacles of the same creature, working at cross-purposes.
—Adam Verner
september 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
The two have been at cross-purposes for years, ignoring their hearts for a litany of reasons.
—EW.com, 28 Aug. 2025
The two political rivals, who despised each other, worked at cross-purposes: Burr insisted on an insanity defense, while Hamilton wanted to find the real killer.
—Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 18 May 2025
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Jesse Humpal, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Oct. 2025
The Georgia raid is yet another example of this administration working at cross-purposes.
—Patricia Lopez, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
The demise of the West as a reliable geopolitical unit will increasingly see the United States and its former partners acting at cross-purposes and finding themselves on the opposite sides of debates.
—Stewart Patrick, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2025
Fragmented mental models mean teams interpret current reality differently and then act at cross-purposes.
—Thomas Lim, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Two tentacles of the same creature, working at cross-purposes.
—Adam Verner
september 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
The two have been at cross-purposes for years, ignoring their hearts for a litany of reasons.
—EW.com, 28 Aug. 2025
The two political rivals, who despised each other, worked at cross-purposes: Burr insisted on an insanity defense, while Hamilton wanted to find the real killer.
—Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 18 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cross-purpose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cross-purpose. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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