opposing goals

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "opposing goals" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe objectives or aims that are in conflict with each other. Example: "The negotiation was challenging due to the opposing goals of both parties, making it difficult to reach a consensus."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

More importantly, we observe some operator' rebalancing behaviors constrained between opposing goals of maximizing trips, profits, and service level agreements.

Journal of Transport Geography

King says that, while activists and companies may have opposing goals, there's room for compromise.

The Guardian

Mark Messier, despite respectable statistics last season, was on the ice for too many opposing goals.

The New York Times - Sports

There are five players a team, opposing goals and 15-minute quarters with a "beer's worth" break in between.

The New York Times - Sports

What seemingly opposing goals did the Congress of Industrial Organizations and the American Federation of Labor have in the 1930s?

The New York Times

Experts of the 1980s agreed that men and women were destined to approach dating with directly opposing goals and very different privileges.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

He gracefully swooped behind the opposing goal.

The New York Times - Sports

A point is scored every time a team gets the Frisbee across the opposing goal line.

The New Yorker

Lehmann was involved in the game to a greater extent than Iker Casillas in the opposing goal.

The Guardian - Sport

Near the end of the game, with the score tied, he planted himself in front of the opposing goal.

The New Yorker

The player with the ball tries to advance it toward the opposing goal by running or passing to a teammate in the open.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about negotiations or strategic planning, use "opposing goals" to clearly articulate the core conflict that needs to be addressed. It's particularly effective in contexts where compromise is necessary but challenging.

Common error

Avoid using "opposing goals" when describing simple disagreements. This phrase implies fundamental incompatibilities, not just minor differences in opinion. If the objectives can be aligned with some effort, consider a phrase like "differing perspectives" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "opposing goals" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a situation where different objectives or aims are in conflict. This is reflected in Ludwig's examples, showing its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "opposing goals" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to describe conflicting objectives, as confirmed by Ludwig. Its neutral register makes it suitable for various contexts, including news, science, and business. While alternatives like "conflicting objectives" and "contradictory aims" exist, "opposing goals" effectively conveys the essence of fundamental incompatibility. Understanding its proper usage and scope is crucial for clear communication, especially in strategic planning and negotiations. The Ludwig AI validates its usability with real-world examples.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

conflicting objectives

Replaces "goals" with "objectives", emphasizing the aims or targets that are in conflict.

contradictory aims

Substitutes "opposing" with "contradictory" and "goals" with "aims", highlighting the mutually exclusive nature of the objectives.

divergent targets

Uses "divergent" to indicate a difference in direction and replaces "goals" with "targets", focusing on the specific results intended.

incompatible purposes

Emphasizes the irreconcilable nature of the "purposes" or intentions.

competing interests

Highlights the rivalry or contention between different "interests" or advantages.

antagonistic intentions

Replaces "goals" with "intentions" and uses "antagonistic" to stress active opposition.

clashing ambitions

Uses "ambitions" to refer to strong desires for achievement, and "clashing" to depict direct conflict.

irreconcilable differences

Focuses on fundamental disagreements that cannot be resolved, implying opposing objectives.

mutually exclusive objectives

Highlights that the "objectives" cannot be achieved simultaneously.

conflicting priorities

Emphasizes that the opposing nature is found in the order of importance or urgency given to different objectives.

FAQs

How can I use "opposing goals" in a sentence?

Use "opposing goals" to describe situations where two or more parties have objectives that are in direct conflict, making collaboration difficult. For example: "The project failed because of the "opposing goals" of the stakeholders".

What are some alternatives to "opposing goals"?

Depending on the specific context, you can use alternatives such as "conflicting objectives", "contradictory aims", or "divergent targets".

Is it correct to say "opposed goals" instead of "opposing goals"?

While "opposed goals" is grammatically acceptable, "opposing goals" is more common and directly conveys the sense of active conflict or incompatibility. "Opposed goals" might imply a more passive resistance.

What's the difference between "opposing goals" and "competing interests"?

"Opposing goals" directly refers to objectives that are in conflict, whereas "competing interests" describes situations where different parties are vying for the same resources or advantages. While related, "opposing goals" focuses on the aims themselves, while "competing interests" focuses on the underlying motivations.