crosscurrent

noun

cross·​cur·​rent ˈkrȯs-ˌkər-ənt 

-ˌkə-rənt

1

: a current running counter to the general forward direction

2

: a conflicting tendency

—usually used in plural

political crosscurrents

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

The ructions in financial markets were set against the concerning crosscurrent of a brewing financial crisis while damaging inflationary pressures remain. —Jason Karaian, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2023

Its ancient cities had been key bazaars lining the Silk Road, a crosscurrent of Middle Eastern, Central Asian, and Chinese cultures, where Buddhist fiefdoms slowly ceded to the eastward advance of Islam a thousand years ago. —Nury Turkel, The Week, 10 May 2022

Analysts said the jump has likely been driven by a crosscurrent of factors that have prompted individual traders to pile in. —Caitlin Mccabe, WSJ, 26 May 2021

Exactly how that is distributed is subject to an overlapping crosscurrent of tax policies whose effects vary from place to place. —New York Times, 1 May 2021

The campaign is restructuring its staff in key early voting states as the 78-year-old Sanders faces crosscurrents that weren’t in play four years ago. —Will Weissert, chicagotribune.com, 19 Sep. 2019

But with so many political crosscurrents buffeting the other five candidates, the attacks flew in all directions, less like a fire hose pointed at one candidate and more like an oscillating sprinkler. —Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2020

Energy markets have been hit by a rare crosscurrent: Demand for oil is withering because of concerns that new coronavirus’s spread will weaken global economic growth. —John Detrixhe, Quartz, 9 Mar. 2020

Many of these writers, newly adrift in Hollywood’s crosscurrents, turned to their lawyers for help. —Wendy Lee, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2019

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Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1