More general:
* Misapprehension: This is a direct synonym, emphasizing the incorrect understanding of something.
* Confusion: This emphasizes the feeling of being lost or uncertain due to the misunderstanding.
* Misinterpretation: This emphasizes that the meaning was wrongly understood.
* Misconstruction: This implies that the meaning was wrongly interpreted or taken out of context.
More specific:
* Disagreement: This emphasizes the fact that different parties have different understandings.
* Disparity: This emphasizes the difference in understanding between two parties.
* Discrepancy: This emphasizes the inconsistency between two understandings.
* Clash: This emphasizes a conflict arising from the misunderstanding.
* Friction: This suggests a feeling of tension or animosity resulting from the misunderstanding.
* Discord: This suggests a lack of harmony due to the misunderstanding.
More informal:
* Mix-up: This is a casual way of saying "misunderstanding."
* Slip-up: This suggests that the misunderstanding was a mistake.
* Cross-purposes: This implies that both parties are working towards different goals due to the misunderstanding.
The best word to use will depend on the specific situation. For example, if you want to emphasize the feeling of uncertainty, "confusion" would be a good choice. If you want to emphasize the conflict that can arise from a misunderstanding, "clash" or "friction" would be more appropriate.