at cross-purposes
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“We have a priority to house people in California and we may be working at cross purposes,” she said, referring to public money going toward both raising the rent and lowering it.
From Los Angeles Times
“Animal welfare” is sometimes misused as a synonym for “animal rights,” but in practice the two worldviews can sometimes be at cross purposes.
From New York Times
The military isn’t the only institution to find itself at cross purposes with young Americans.
From Washington Times
“Gov. Newsom is going to have to be extremely careful that what he does in the world of climate change, energy and these kinds of actually very constructive places where we do need to interact with China, don’t run at cross purposes with Washington,” Schell said.
From Los Angeles Times
"If we don't have that clarity of purpose, then we will permit our policies to work at cross purposes - and that is absolutely one thing at play right now," he said.
From BBC
From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
