invidious definition | Dictionary.com

Synonyms

defamatory, injurious, scandalous, covetous, green-eyed, jealous, detestable, discriminatory, envious, hateful, objectionable, odious

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invidious - 5 dictionary results

in⋅vid⋅i⋅ous

[in-vid-ee-uh

–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; < L invidiōsus envious, envied, hateful, equiv. to invidi(a) envy + -ōsus -ous

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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in·vid·i·ous (ĭn-vĭd'ē-əs) Pronunciation Key
adj.

Tending to rouse ill will, animosity, or resentment: invidious accusations.
Containing or implying a slight; discriminatory: invidious distinctions.
Envious.

[From Latin invidiōsus, envious, hostile, from invidia, envy; see envy.]

in·vid'i·ous·ly adv., in·vid'i·ous·ness n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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invidious

1606, from L. invidiosus "envious," from invidia "ill will" (see envy).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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invidious
adjective
containing or implying a slight or showing prejudice; "discriminatory attitudes and practices"; "invidious comparisons" [syn: discriminatory]

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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Invidious

En"vi*ous\, a. [OF. envios, F. envieux, fr. L. invidiosus, fr. invidia envy. See Envy, and cf. Invidious.]

1. Malignant; mischievous; spiteful. [Obs.]

Each envious brier his weary legs doth scratch. --Shak.

2. Feeling or exhibiting envy; actuated or directed by, or proceeding from, envy; -- said of a person, disposition, feeling, act, etc.; jealously pained by the excellence or good fortune of another; maliciously grudging; -- followed by of, at, and against; as, an envious man, disposition, attack; envious tongues.

My soul is envious of mine eye. --Keble.

Neither be thou envious at the wicked. --Prov. xxiv. 19.

3. Inspiring envy. [Obs. or Poetic]

He to him leapt, and that same envious gage Of victor's glory from him snatched away. --Spenser.

4. Excessively careful; cautious. [Obs.]

No men are so envious of their health. --Jer. Taylor. -- En"vi*ous*ly, adv. -- En"vi*ous*ness, n.