contrary purposes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "contrary purposes" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe situations or actions that are in opposition to each other or serve different objectives. Example: "The two parties had contrary purposes in the negotiation, making it difficult to reach an agreement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

This degree of uniformity, though, only points up the productions' contrary purposes.

The New York Times - Arts

One novel feature of the bill is a provision aimed at raising the environmental consciousness of the Bureau of Land Management, which administers the bulk of the country's public lands for often contrary purposes, including conservation and oil and gas drilling.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

On the contrary, purpose driven brands are growing ahead of the market.

HuffPost

Naturalism, on the contrary, readmitted purpose and selectivity.

Britannica

For us, on the contrary, the purpose of our lives is itself in question.

Yale University

On the contrary, the purpose of commercial speech generally is regulable.

Harvard University

As Göran discovers, there has never been any such thing as free love; on the contrary, the purpose of "Together" is to demonstrate that love costs, or, rather, as Nazareth crisply informs us on the soundtrack, love hurts.

The New Yorker

On the contrary, its purpose was to discreetly pack as much content as possible onto a long strip of fabric, which could be smuggled as a cheat sheet into a civil service examination.

Princeton University

William J. Brown, the lawyer for Mr. Lane and the five other plaintiffs, said that to the contrary, the purpose of the law was to ensure that people with disabilities do not have to "suffer pain and public humiliation as a condition of citizenship".

The New York Times

To the contrary, her purpose is to defend anti-realist metaethical theories against realist theories that view moral truth as "stance-independent" of human attitudes and emotions.

SEP

(2) Be contrary to the purposes for which the natural, historic, development and special use zones were established; or unreasonably impair the atmosphere of peace and tranquility maintained in wilderness, natural, historic, or commemorative zones.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "contrary purposes", ensure the context clearly establishes what or who holds these opposing goals. Clarity is key to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "contrary purposes" when simply describing different, but not necessarily opposing, goals. The phrase implies a direct conflict or incompatibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "contrary purposes" functions as a noun phrase, where 'contrary' modifies 'purposes'. According to Ludwig, it describes situations where goals or intentions are in opposition. Examples show its use in describing conflicting organizational objectives or legal interpretations.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "contrary purposes" is a grammatically sound phrase used to denote opposing goals or intentions. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness. While not overly frequent, it finds use across various domains, including news, academia and encyclopedias. When employing this phrase, ensure a clear context to highlight the direct conflict between objectives. Consider alternative phrases like "opposing intentions" or "conflicting goals" to fine-tune the intended nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

conflicting purposes

Slightly alters the original phrase by changing the adjective, maintaining the original meaning.

opposing intentions

Emphasizes the conflicting nature of the intentions behind actions or plans.

conflicting goals

Highlights the clash between desired outcomes or targets.

incompatible goals

Emphasizes that the goals cannot coexist or be achieved simultaneously.

divergent aims

Focuses on the different objectives or targets that individuals or groups are pursuing.

contrasting aims

Highlights the differences between the desired outcomes.

antithetical objectives

Stresses the direct opposition between objectives, suggesting they are mutually exclusive.

opposing ends

Focuses on the final outcomes or results that are in opposition.

discordant objectives

Highlights a lack of agreement or harmony in the pursued objectives.

mutually exclusive purposes

Highlights the impossibility of achieving both purposes simultaneously.

FAQs

How can I use "contrary purposes" in a sentence?

You can use "contrary purposes" to describe situations where different entities or actions have opposing goals. For example, "The two departments operated with "opposing intentions", leading to inefficiencies."

What's a simpler way to express "contrary purposes"?

Alternatives include "conflicting goals", "divergent aims", or "opposing ends", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "contrary purposes" in formal writing?

Yes, "contrary purposes" is suitable for formal writing. However, ensure your context provides adequate explanation. Consider whether a more specific phrase like "antithetical objectives" would improve clarity.

What is the difference between "different purposes" and "contrary purposes"?

"Different purposes" simply indicates varying goals. "Contrary purposes", however, implies that these goals are in opposition or conflict with one another.