be at cross purposes

“Animal welfare” is sometimes misused as a synonym for “animal rights,” but in practice the two worldviews can sometimes be at cross purposes.

In both cases, Donnelly said, the agencies appear to “be at cross purposes, with the service declaring species endangered precisely because of actions the other federal agency is approving.”

It does mean that the process will be contentious and that the uncertainties will be at cross- purposes with Trump’s goal of faster growth.

There seem to be many cross currents and individuals who seem to be at cross purposes as well.

While publicly feuding with Trump, the cable news behemoth also seemed to be at cross- purposes with itself, toggling between the competing goals of taking a hard line with the recalcitrant candidate and wooing him.