invidious

adjective

in·​vid·​i·​ous in-ˈvi-dē-əs 

1

a

: of an unpleasant or objectionable nature : obnoxious

invidious remarks

b

: of a kind to cause harm or resentment

an invidious comparison

2

: tending to cause discontent, animosity, or envy

the invidious task of arbitration

3

: envious

invidiously adverb

invidiousness noun

Did you know?

Fittingly, "invidious" is a relative of "envy." Both are descendants of "invidia," the Latin word for "envy," which in turn comes from invidēre, meaning "to look askance at or "to envy." ("Invidious" descends from "invidia" by way of the Latin adjective invidiosus, meaning "envious, whereas "envy" comes to English via the Anglo-French noun envie.) These days, however, "invidious" is rarely used as a synonym for "envious." The preferred uses are primarily pejorative, describing things that are unpleasant (such as "invidious choices" and "invidious tasks") or worthy of scorn ("invidious remarks" or "invidious comparisons").

Synonyms

• covetous
• envious
• green-eyed
• jaundiced
• jealous
• resentful

Examples of invidious in a Sentence

The boss made invidious distinctions between employees.

inevitably, his remarkable success attracted the invidious attention of the other sales representatives

Recent Examples on the Web

The Justice Department’s civil law jurisdiction is essentially limited to components of government, particularly at the state level, that practice invidious forms of discrimination. —The Editors, National Review, 13 Dec. 2024

Any persistent disparity between racial or social groups is taken as ipso facto proof of invidious discrimination. —Charles Kesler, National Review, 20 June 2024

Masculine critical categories stopped being applied; other, more invidious ones crept in. —Clare Bucknell, The New York Review of Books, 21 Oct. 2021

People have a right to work, attend school, obtain loans, use public transportation, vote, and secure housing free from invidious discrimination. —WIRED, 6 Oct. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Latin invidiosus envious, invidious, from invidia envy — more at envy

First Known Use

1606, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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Kids Definition

invidious

adjective

in·​vid·​i·​ous in-ˈvid-ē-əs 

1

: of an unpleasant or objectionable kind

invidious criticism

2

: of a kind to cause resentment

an invidious comparison

invidiously adverb

invidiousness noun

Legal Definition

invidious

adjective

in·​vid·​i·​ous in-ˈvi-dē-əs 

: of, relating to, or being discrimination that arises from the creation of a classification that is arbitrary, irrational, or capricious and not related to a legitimate purpose

invidiously adverb

invidiousness noun