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cross-purpose

[ kraws-pur-puhs, kros- ]
/ ˈkrɔsˈpɜr pəs, ˈkrɒs- /
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See synonyms for: cross-purpose / cross-purposes on Thesaurus.com

noun

an opposing or contrary purpose.

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On the farm, the feed for chicks is significantly different from the roosters’; ______ not even comparable.
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Idioms for cross-purpose

    at cross-purposes, in a way that involves or produces mutual misunderstanding or frustration, usually unintentionally.

Origin of cross-purpose

First recorded in 1660–70

Words nearby cross-purpose

cross-post, cross-posting, cross press, cross product, cross protection, cross-purpose, cross-question, crossrail, cross ratio, cross-react, cross-reacting agglutinin
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Words related to cross-purpose

discord, dissent, disunity, argument, friction, wrangle, controversy, debate, fight, split, spat, tension, squabble, clash, antagonism, hostility, misunderstanding, opposition, animosity, difference

Example sentences from the Web for cross-purpose

British Dictionary definitions for cross-purpose

cross-purpose

noun

a contrary aim or purpose
at cross-purposes conflicting; opposed; disagreeing
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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