crosscurrents
Clashing directional forces
Crosscurrents are conflicting forces or tendencies moving in opposition to each other.
The literal sense is water or air flowing against the main current: Crosscurrents made swimming dangerous.
More often the word describes competing influences in politics, culture, or opinion: The legislation faced crosscurrents from both progressives and conservatives.
The plural dominates; the singular crosscurrent appears but is less common.
Counter-flowing circular currents
- turbulenceChaotic flow patterns
- vortexRotating fluid column
- swirlRotating, curving movement
- undertowSubsurface seaward current
riptide · flow · drift · confluence · tidal · whirlpool · circulation · countercurrent
Stretched or strained state
- oppositionActive resistance or dissent
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
- frictionResistance between touching surfaces
- contradictionOpposing claims, incompatible together
discord · antagonism · rivalry · contention · resistance · counterforce · struggle · dissent
Forceful interruption of process
- staticWithout motion or change
- noiseUnwanted auditory disturbance
- distortionTwisting from original state
- signalMessage-conveying cue
jamming · obstruction · hindrance · scrambling · counteracting · conflicting · muddying · obscuring
Era's dominant mentality
- trendsPrevailing directions of change
- movementsChanges in position
- influencesPowers that shape behavior
- globalizationWorldwide economic and cultural integration
migration · diaspora · exchange · fusion · hybridization · pluralism · multiculturalism · generational
Reciprocal action between things
- nuanceSlight shade of difference
- intricacyState of elaborate complexity
- multiplicityState of being many
- diversityState of varied elements
convergence · intersection · layering · overlap · tapestry · mosaic · interdependence · multifaceted
eddies
Counter-flowing circular currents
- turbulenceChaotic flow patterns
- vortexRotating fluid column
- swirlRotating, curving movement
undertow · riptide · flow · drift · confluence · tidal · whirlpool · circulation · countercurrent · backwash
tension
Stretched or strained state
- oppositionActive resistance or dissent
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
- frictionResistance between touching surfaces
contradiction · discord · antagonism · rivalry · contention · resistance · counterforce · struggle · dissent · polarization
disruption
Forceful interruption of process
- staticWithout motion or change
- noiseUnwanted auditory disturbance
- distortionTwisting from original state
signal · jamming · obstruction · hindrance · scrambling · counteracting · conflicting · muddying · obscuring · complicating
zeitgeist
Era's dominant mentality
- trendsPrevailing directions of change
- movementsChanges in position
- influencesPowers that shape behavior
globalization · migration · diaspora · exchange · fusion · hybridization · pluralism · multiculturalism · generational · ideological
interplay
Reciprocal action between things
- nuanceSlight shade of difference
- intricacyState of elaborate complexity
- multiplicityState of being many
diversity · convergence · intersection · layering · overlap · tapestry · mosaic · interdependence · multifaceted · entanglement
crosscurrentsmainstream
Dominant cultural current
laminar flow · direct current · steady stream · steady flow · calm waters
crosscurrentsconsensus
General group agreement
unanimity · uniformity · harmony · convergence · agreement