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YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

invidious

Adjective

IPA /ɪnˈvɪdiəs/

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Meaning in plain English

Unfair or unpleasant in a way that is likely to cause resentment or offence.

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Pronunciation

invidious/ɪnˈvɪdiəs/

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  1. Two equally helpful volunteers contribute

  2. A manager must publicly praise only one

  3. The unfair comparison may cause resentment

An invidious choice or comparison risks unfairness and offence.

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  1. Choosing a favourite among the children put him in an invidious position.
  2. The manager avoided invidious comparisons between colleagues with different duties.

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Choosing a favourite among the children put him in an ________ position.
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invidious — Unfair or unpleasant in a way that is likely to cause resentment or offence.

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Unfair or unpleasant in a way that is likely to cause resentment or offence.

Compare: Choosing a favourite among the children put him in an invidious position.

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Word origin

From Latin invidiosus, related to invidia, meaning envy or resentment.

Did you know?

Invidious position and invidious comparison are useful combinations.

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invidious

/ɪnˈvɪdiəs/ (Adjective)

“Formal: do not confuse invidious, which concerns unfairness or offence, with insidious, which concerns hidden harm.”

englishskillstudio.com