cross-purposes
Goals that clash
Cross-purposes describes a situation where people are working toward different goals while believing they're aligned, or misunderstanding each other's intentions.
The phrase appears almost exclusively in at cross-purposes: We kept talking past each other—we were completely at cross-purposes.
The image is of paths crossing rather than running parallel.
Absence of shared opinion
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
- contradictionOpposing claims, incompatible together
- frictionResistance between touching surfaces
- antagonismActive opposition or hostility
contention · dispute · opposition · counteraction · interference · incompatibility · divergence · variance
Failure to grasp meaning
- misinterpretationIncorrect understanding of meaning
- confusionMental disorientation or bewilderment
- miscommunicationFailed exchange of meaning
- talking pastFailing to connect conversationally
mixed signals · disconnect · misreading · misalignment · nonalignment · asynchrony · disjunction · mismatch
Mutual blocking, no progress
- stalemateMutual obstruction preventing progress
- gridlockComplete mutual obstruction
- standoffUnresolved confrontation between opponents
- logjamObstruction halting flow
bottleneck · obstruction · hindrance · obstacle · impediment · blockage · paralysis · inaction
Intense weary annoyance
- irritationMild anger or inflammation
- annoyanceState of being bothered
- vexationFrustrated annoyance
- aggravationState of being vexed
disappointment · dissatisfaction · futility · inefficiency · setback · complication · thwarted · counterproductive
disagreement
Absence of shared opinion
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
- contradictionOpposing claims, incompatible together
- frictionResistance between touching surfaces
antagonism · contention · dispute · opposition · counteraction · interference · incompatibility · divergence · variance · discord
misunderstanding
Failure to grasp meaning
- misinterpretationIncorrect understanding of meaning
- confusionMental disorientation or bewilderment
- miscommunicationFailed exchange of meaning
talking past · mixed signals · disconnect · misreading · misalignment · nonalignment · asynchrony · disjunction · mismatch · discrepancy
deadlock
Mutual blocking, no progress
- stalemateMutual obstruction preventing progress
- gridlockComplete mutual obstruction
- standoffUnresolved confrontation between opponents
logjam · bottleneck · obstruction · hindrance · obstacle · impediment · blockage · paralysis · inaction · going nowhere
exasperation
Intense weary annoyance
- irritationMild anger or inflammation
- annoyanceState of being bothered
- vexationFrustrated annoyance
aggravation · disappointment · dissatisfaction · futility · inefficiency · setback · complication · thwarted · counterproductive · self-defeating
cross-purposescommon purpose
Goal held by many
collaboration · cooperation · harmony · alignment · concert
cross-purposesmutual understanding
Shared agreement between parties
clear communication · meeting of minds · same wavelength · clarity · agreement
cross, purpose, crossing, crossed, purposeful, crisscross, crossroad, purposes, purposeless