invidious
Americanadjective
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calculated to create ill will or resentment or give offense; hateful.
invidious remarks.
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offensively or unfairly discriminating; injurious.
invidious comparisons.
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causing or tending to cause animosity, resentment, or envy.
an invidious honor.
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Obsolete. envious.
adjective
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incurring or tending to arouse resentment, unpopularity, etc
an invidious task
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(of comparisons or distinctions) unfairly or offensively discriminating
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obsolete grudging; envious
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of invidious
1600–10; < Latin invidiōsus envious, envied, hateful, equivalent to invidi ( a ) envy + -ōsus -ous
Explanation
Something can be described as invidious when it is resentful, discriminatory or envious, as in: "Fred was angered by the invidious gossip about his divorce being spread by his ex-wife's allies." The adjective invidious is used to describe an act, thought, opinion or critique that is full of ill will or prejudice. It comes from a Latin word that means "hostile." When the captain of a cheerleading squad says nasty things about an opposing cheer team's skills, work ethic, and uniforms, those are invidious comments.
Vocabulary lists containing invidious
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Common Senses: Vid, Vis ("See")
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Some diplomats wonder if Trump may voice an opinion about who should replace Lord Mandelson, potentially putting No 10 in an invidious position.
From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2025
Sir Andy Cooke, His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary, said current legislation places police in an "invidious position" with "discretion and common sense" not always prevailing.
From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2025
Sotomayor explained that existing statutes apply whether or not officials show “any invidious animus or purpose.”
From Slate ● Jun. 12, 2025
Over the years, Congress has passed an array of sweeping statutes intended to protect some of the most vulnerable Americans from rank bigotry and invidious discrimination.
From Slate ● Oct. 4, 2023
Like invidious doctors, they knew just where it hurt.
From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
