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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

In an otherwise simplistic story of good versus evil, watching two good guys at cross-purposes is often fun. —

Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 24 Jan. 2025 Attempting to follow Muslim customs, each family member is at cross-purposes. —

Armond White, National Review, 22 Jan. 2025 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 See all Example Sentences for at cross-purposes

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“At cross-purposes.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/at%20cross-purposes. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.

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