invidious

[in-vid-ee-uh s] /ɪnˈvɪd i əs/
adjective
1.
calculated to create ill will or resentment or give offense; hateful:
invidious remarks.
2.
offensively or unfairly discriminating; injurious:
invidious comparisons.
3.
causing or tending to cause animosity, resentment, or envy:
an invidious honor.
4.
Obsolete, envious.
Origin
1600-10; < Latin invidiōsus envious, envied, hateful, equivalent to invidi(a) envy + -ōsus -ous
Related forms
invidiously, adverb
invidiousness, noun
noninvidious, adjective
noninvidiously, adverb
noninvidiousness, noun
uninvidious, adjective
uninvidiously, adverb
Can be confused
insidious, invidious.
Examples from the web for invidious
  • It might be that in this case an absence of invidious commentary suggests an absence of invidious feeling.
  • The precise question is whether the difference in treatment is invidious or arbitrary.
  • The provisions in controversy are rationally based and free from invidious discrimination.
British Dictionary definitions for invidious

invidious

/ɪnˈvɪdɪəs/
adjective
1.
incurring or tending to arouse resentment, unpopularity, etc: an invidious task
2.
(of comparisons or distinctions) unfairly or offensively discriminating
3.
(obsolete) grudging; envious
Derived Forms
invidiously, adverb
invidiousness, noun
Word Origin
C17: from Latin invidiōsus full of envy, from invidiaenvy
Word Origin and History for invidious
adj.

c.1600, from Latin invidiosus "full of envy, envious," from invidia "envy, grudge, jealousy, ill will" (see envy). Related: Invidiously; invidiousness.