invidious

[ in-vid-ee-uhs ]

adjective

1. calculated to create ill will or resentment or give offense; hateful:

   invidious remarks.

2. offensively or unfairly discriminating; injurious:

   invidious comparisons.

3. causing or tending to cause animosity, resentment, or envy:

   an invidious honor.

4. Obsolete. envious.

invidious

/ ɪnˈvɪdɪəs /

adjective

1. incurring or tending to arouse resentment, unpopularity, etc

   an invidious task

2. (of comparisons or distinctions) unfairly or offensively discriminating
3. obsolete.
   grudging; envious

Derived Forms

• inˈvidiousness, noun
• inˈvidiously, adverb

Other Words From

• in·vidi·ous·ly adverb
• in·vidi·ous·ness noun
• nonin·vidi·ous adjective
• nonin·vidi·ous·ly adverb
• nonin·vidi·ous·ness noun
• unin·vidi·ous adjective
• unin·vidi·ous·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of invidious¹

1600–10; < Latin invidiōsus envious, envied, hateful, equivalent to invidi ( a ) envy + -ōsus -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of invidious¹

C17: from Latin invidiōsus full of envy, from invidia envy

Example Sentences

Until it is concluded, the situation puts everyone in F1, both inside and outside Red Bull, in an invidious position.

From BBC

Unite's deputy regional secretary, Davy Thompson, said minimum service levels are "the most invidious example of knee jerk legislating this country has seen in a long time".

From BBC

District Court’s dismissal of the equal protection violations, saying the foundation “has not plausibly alleged invidious discrimination by District officials.”

From Washington Times

In doing so, the majority discredited the trial court's finding that the schools, in considering Black students' credentials for admission, did not engage in invidious discrimination against other races.

From Salon

As Roberts put it, “racial discrimination is invidious in all contexts.”

From Seattle Times