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
Perhaps fittingly, then, the plan’s execution seems to be under a spell too, with everyone lost in an entanglement of sloppiness, cross-purposes and bad luck.
—
Tom Gliatto, Peoplemag, 19 Aug. 2023
Though the flows are manicured and melodic, the bars stumble over the album’s cross-purposes.
—Vulture, 2 Aug. 2023
Their loose confederation has its cross-purposes and is united mainly by hostility toward the United States.
—Philip Zelikow, Foreign Affairs, 21 June 2022
Over the last year, the Fed’s duties as an inflation fighter and a bank regulator have been at cross-purposes.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2023
Added difficulty stems from the fact that typical solutions for them can work at cross-purposes.
—Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 Mar. 2023
In my experience, nothing can hold a team back more than using different spreadsheets for cross-purposes.
—Rahul Shah, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2023
Shree sets out to explore how Ma’s muteness brings out the best and worst in her kin, among whom there are constant exchanges at cross-purposes but few scenes of direct, meaningful conversation.
—Anjum Hasan, The New York Review of Books, 2 Mar. 2023
See More
Tom Gliatto, Peoplemag, 19 Aug. 2023
Though the flows are manicured and melodic, the bars stumble over the album’s cross-purposes.
—Vulture, 2 Aug. 2023
Their loose confederation has its cross-purposes and is united mainly by hostility toward the United States.
—Philip Zelikow, Foreign Affairs, 21 June 2022
Over the last year, the Fed’s duties as an inflation fighter and a bank regulator have been at cross-purposes.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2023
Added difficulty stems from the fact that typical solutions for them can work at cross-purposes.
—Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 Mar. 2023
In my experience, nothing can hold a team back more than using different spreadsheets for cross-purposes.
—Rahul Shah, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2023
Shree sets out to explore how Ma’s muteness brings out the best and worst in her kin, among whom there are constant exchanges at cross-purposes but few scenes of direct, meaningful conversation.
—Anjum Hasan, The New York Review of Books, 2 Mar. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cross-purpose.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1668, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near cross-purpose
Cite this Entry
“Cross-purpose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cross-purpose. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
cross-purpose
noun
cross-pur·pose
ˈkrȯ-ˈspər-pəs
: a purpose unintentionally contrary to someone else's purpose
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share