invidious

adjective

in·​vid·​i·​ous in-ˈvi-dē-əs How to pronounce invidious (audio)
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
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").

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 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 There is much more to be said on backsliding, including about its invidious foreign policy consequences. Foreign Affairs, 19 Oct. 2021 See all Example Sentences for invidious 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'invidious.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1606, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of invidious was in 1606

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Dictionary Entries Near invidious

Cite this Entry

“Invidious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/invidious. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

invidious

adjective
in·​vid·​i·​ous in-ˈvid-ē-əs How to pronounce invidious (audio)
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 How to pronounce invidious (audio)
: 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

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