invidious
in-VID-ee-us
/ɪnˈvɪd.i.əs/
Likely to arouse resentment, ill will, or anger in others; unfair and offensive.
Describes a task, distinction, or comparison that creates bad feelings because it unfairly favors one party over another.
The story behind the word. Directly adopted from Latin invidiosus ('envious, hateful, causing ill will'), from invidia ('envy'). In classical rhetoric, an 'invidious' argument was one designed specifically to make an opponent look hateful to the audience.
Word relationships
- discriminatory: Discriminatory focuses on legal or social unfairness based on category.
- obnoxious: Obnoxious means highly offensive or unpleasant, without necessarily provoking jealousy or rivalry.
- flattering: Flattering causes pleasure and enhances status rather than creating ill will.
- equitable: Equitable means fair and impartial to all involved.
Commonly confused with
- insidious: Insidious means spreading harm gradually and deceitfully; invidious means causing resentment or ill will.
Word family
- invidiously (adverb): In a manner likely to cause offense or ill will.
- invidiousness (noun): The quality of causing resentment or offense.
Collocations
- invidious comparison
- invidious task
- invidious distinction
- invidious position
Idioms & expressions
- an invidious choice
Example sentences
- "The judge warned that making invidious comparisons between the two siblings would only damage family relations further." Legal essay
- "Managers must avoid putting employees in the invidious position of choosing between safety rules and deadline demands." Corporate policy
Memory hook
INVIDIOUS sounds like IN-VIDIOUS (video)—an action so unfair it would look horrific if recorded on VIDEO. INVIDIOUS distinctions invite hostility.
When not to use
Do not use to describe a person's inner feeling of envy; invidious applies to actions, distinctions, or tasks that cause offense.
Fun facts
- Sociologist Thorstein Veblen famously coined the term 'invidious comparison' in 1899 to describe how wealthy people rate themselves against others to establish superiority.
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