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
The members of their tribe were running around the beach at cross-purposes, trying to set up camp—to set up a society.
—
Julie Beck, The Atlantic, 12 May 2026
But as soon as one flagellar motor reverses direction and starts rotating clockwise, the bundle falls apart; the reverse-twirling filament unravels the braid and puts the cell’s flagellar motors at cross-purposes, kicking the cell around.
—Quanta Magazine, 20 Apr. 2026
Teams run at cross-purposes because priorities are unclearly or inconsistently communicated.
—Debon Lewis, Forbes.com, 12 Mar. 2026
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
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
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Julie Beck, The Atlantic, 12 May 2026
But as soon as one flagellar motor reverses direction and starts rotating clockwise, the bundle falls apart; the reverse-twirling filament unravels the braid and puts the cell’s flagellar motors at cross-purposes, kicking the cell around.
—Quanta Magazine, 20 Apr. 2026
Teams run at cross-purposes because priorities are unclearly or inconsistently communicated.
—Debon Lewis, Forbes.com, 12 Mar. 2026
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
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
Cite this Entry
“Cross-purpose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cross-purpose. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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