misunderstanding

1 a failure to understand correctly people once thought that there were canals on Mars because of a common misunderstanding of a report by an Italian astronomer Synonyms incomprehension, misapprehension, misconstruction, misconstruing, misimpression, misinterpretation, misknowledge, misreading Related Words astigmatism, misconception, misperception, misprision, mistake Near Antonyms appreciation, apprehension, comprehension, conception, grasp, grokking, knowledge, perception, prehension, understanding; awareness, consciousness, realization

2 an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions tried to resolve their misunderstandings peacefully Synonyms altercation, argle-bargle [chiefly British], argy-bargy [chiefly British], battle royal, bicker, brawl, contretemps, controversy, cross fire, disagreement, dispute, donnybrook, falling-out, fight, hassle, imbroglio, kickup, argument, quarrel, rhubarb, row, scrap, set-to, spat, squabble, tiff, wrangleRelated Words clash, run-in, skirmish, tangle, tussle; logomachy; feud, vendetta; attack, contention, dissension (also dissention); debate, difference, disputation; fuss, objection, protest, protestation; affray [chiefly British], fisticuffs, fracas, fray, free-for-all, melee (also mêlée); catfight