invidious to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'invidious to' is an appropriate usage in written English; it is an adjectival phrase that means to be prejudicial, disadvantageous, or causing envy.
For example, "It was invidious to the students in the lower-level math class when the teacher gave extra attention to the advanced class."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

It's invidious to separate each contribution.

The Guardian - Music

It's invidious to pick his best joke.

The Guardian - Opinion

It would have been invidious to choose between them.

The Guardian

Blair says it is "invidious to criticised from the outside".

The Guardian

Invidious to mention particular performers in what is splendidly mounted joint-operation.

Independent

It thus still feels invidious to suggest names for the fat and fabulous category.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

"It forces staff to face an invidious choice: to face prosecution, or speak out about egregious child rights violations when nothing is being done to remedy them".

The Guardian

"This is our national game and part of our culture so I ask all other bodies to leave it to those who have been put in this invidious position to make a decision in the best possible interests of our game.

BBC

207082 Steve Case AOL Time Warner If Time Warner deletes the "AOL" from its corporate letterhead, maybe the market will begin to deal with this firm as it actually is, rather than continually making invidious comparisons to the media-convergence monster it was supposed to become as a result of the merger.

Forbes

Comparisons can be invidious, not to say destructive, and some may have been tempted to get above themselves after being bracketed in the same sentence as the Bayern Munich striker Thomas Müller and Barcelona forward Neymar.

Independent

With neo-Nazis causing mounting concern in Germany, and an upsurge of anti-immigrant sentiment in Spain and Italy, why single Britain out for special criticism?The committee's answer is that its job is not to make cross-country comparisons, which can often be invidious, but to reflect changing trends within individual countries.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "invidious to" when you want to express that a comparison or singling out could cause resentment or be unfair. For example, "It would be invidious to choose one child as the favorite."

Common error

Avoid using "invidious to" when you simply mean 'difficult' or 'hard'. "Invidious" carries the specific connotation of causing unfairness, resentment, or envy, so ensure your context aligns with this meaning.

Linguistic Context

Invidious to functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe something that is likely to cause resentment or unfairness. It often precedes an infinitive verb, indicating the action that would be "invidious". Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

17%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "invidious to" is a phrase used to describe something that could cause resentment or unfairness. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and commonly found in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. When writing, consider alternatives like "unfair to" or "unjust to" depending on the nuance you want to convey. Use "invidious to" to suggest caution and discourage actions that might lead to discontent or bias. Remember that using "invidious to" implies that an action could cause unfairness, resentment, or envy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unfair to

Emphasizes the injustice or inequity involved in a situation.

unjust to

Highlights the lack of moral rightness or fairness.

discriminatory toward

Focuses on the act of making distinctions that disadvantage certain groups.

prejudicial to

Highlights the bias or preconceived opinions that lead to unfair treatment.

hard to

Indicates the difficulty in choosing or singling out one among many.

problematic to

Suggests that there may be issues that make something unappealing.

delicate to

Highlights sensitivity required when dealing with the task.

risky to

Highlights possible adverse reactions dealing with the task.

imprudent to

Highlights how some behaviors are unwise or show lack of care for consequences

unwise to

Highlights the lack of good judgement.

FAQs

How can I use "invidious to" in a sentence?

You can use "invidious to" to describe actions that might cause resentment or unfairness. For example, "It would be "invidious to" compare the students' grades without considering their different learning styles".

What does "invidious to" mean?

"Invidious to" means something is likely to cause resentment, envy, or be unfairly discriminating.

What are some alternatives to "invidious to"?

Alternatives include "unfair to", "unjust to", or "discriminatory toward", depending on the specific context.

Is it always negative to be "invidious to"?

Yes, the term "invidious to" typically carries a negative connotation, suggesting something could lead to negativity or unfairness.