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

Neal Katyal, a Georgetown law professor arguing on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, said the broad ruling sought by Catholic Social Services would open the door to invidious discrimination — not just against LGBTQ couples.

From Washington Blade

Can we find a way to prevent invidious discrimination without subjecting ourselves to government-enforced ideologies?

From The Daily Beast

Tevi Troy eschews any invidious mention of right-of-center think tanks in his critique.

From The Daily Beast

The drive toward nihilism is invidious, and it adds a substantial layer of risk to the financial world and markets.

From The Daily Beast

Unfortunately, the yoke of the foreigner came in more invidious guise.

From Project Gutenberg

It is, therefore, (p. 224) a matter of individual taste, and further comparisons would be invidious and perhaps unjust.

From Project Gutenberg

There was little indeed to be amused at here except his choice of the particular invidious name.

From Project Gutenberg

Several exceptions must be understood; but to select them would be invidious.

From Project Gutenberg

That invidious task they leave to the unsuccessful novelists.

From Project Gutenberg