invidious
/ɪnˈvɪdi.əs/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: 2.09 in modern English
13
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
4
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
adj
Detestable, hateful, or odious. (Often used in cases of perceived unfairness, or when facing a difficult situation or choice — especially in the phrase invidious position.)
Example Sentences
- "To think highly of ourselves in comparison with others, to assume by our own authority that precedence which none is willing to grant, must be always invidious and offensive; […]"
- "‘I didn’t make use of the word in any invidious sense, ma’am,’ replied Mr. Benjamin Allen, growing somewhat uneasy on his own account."
- "[…] when the interposing barriers of earth and time, and a sense that the events had been somewhat shut into oblivion, would deaden the sting that revelation and invidious remark would have for Bathsheba just now."
- "He lingered on the bridges at sunset, and knew that the light was enchanting and the mountains divine, but there seemed to be something horribly invidious and unwelcome in the fact."
- "I should be very reluctant, as head of His Majesty's Government, to place such an invidious responsibility upon a British officer."
- "But the rich man—not to make any invidious comparison—is always sold to the institution which makes him rich."
Etymology
Origin
- Source language: Latin
Word Breakdown
- Root: *weyd-, invidiōsus
Usage
Inflected Forms
more invidious (comparative)
most invidious (superlative)