Usually means: Working towards conflicting goals unintentionally.
Definitions Related words Phrases Mentions
We found 13 dictionaries that define the word cross purposes:

General (12 matching dictionaries)
  1. cross-purposes: Merriam-Webster
  2. cross-purposes, cross-purposes: Collins English Dictionary
  3. cross-purposes: Vocabulary.com
  4. cross-purposes: Wordnik
  5. cross purposes: Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
  6. cross-purposes, cross purposes: Wiktionary
  7. cross-purposes: Dictionary.com
  8. cross-purposes: Cambridge Essential American English Dictionary
  9. Cross Purposes (film), Cross Purposes: Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia
  10. Cross Purposes: E Cobham Brewer, The Reader's Handbook
  11. cross-purposes: TheFreeDictionary.com
  12. cross purposes: Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

Business (1 matching dictionary)
  1. cross-purposes, cross purposes: Legal dictionary

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Definitions from Wiktionary (cross purposes)

▸ noun:  (plural-noun) Conflicting, or contrary meanings or ideas, usually arising unintentionally.

Similar:
crosscurrent, contrariety, cross-purposes, equivoque, conflictedness, contradiction in terms, contranym, clash, confusable, intercontradiction, more...

Opposite:
aligned, cooperative, harmonious, synchronized

Types:
at cross purposes, at loggerheads, incompatible, more...

Phrases:
at cross purposes, to be at cross purposes, Cross Purposes Live, more...

▸ Words similar to cross purposes

▸ Usage examples for cross purposes

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Similar:
crosscurrent, contrariety, cross-purposes, equivoque, conflictedness, contradiction in terms, contranym, clash, confusable, intercontradiction, more...

Opposite:
aligned, cooperative, harmonious, synchronized

Types:
at cross purposes, at loggerheads, incompatible, more...

Phrases:
at cross purposes, to be at cross purposes, Cross Purposes Live, more...



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