Indignant vs. Invidious — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 21, 2024
Indignant describes a feeling of anger or annoyance at perceived injustice, while invidious refers to actions or situations likely to arouse resentment or anger in others due to unfairness.
Difference Between Indignant and Invidious
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Indignant is an adjective used to express anger or strong displeasure at something considered unjust, offensive, or insulting. When someone feels indignant, they react to perceived wrongs with righteous anger. This emotion often arises from a sense of moral or ethical outrage. Invidious, on the other hand, describes actions or situations that are likely to cause resentment, envy, or anger in others. It refers to something that provokes ill will because it is perceived as unfairly discriminating or offensive. Invidious actions often create division or dissatisfaction due to their unjust nature.
While indignant focuses on the personal emotional response to unfair treatment, invidious centers on the potential for causing negative feelings in others through unfair practices. Indignant individuals react to injustice with anger, whereas invidious actions or remarks are those that provoke such reactions in others.
Indignant people feel a strong sense of injustice and respond emotionally to perceived wrongs. In contrast, invidious comparisons, decisions, or actions create an environment where others feel wronged or discriminated against, often leading to widespread dissatisfaction.
Indignation is often a spontaneous, personal reaction to an immediate situation, whereas invidious actions can be premeditated and designed to create an atmosphere of resentment. The former is an emotional response, while the latter is a characteristic of actions or remarks that affect others.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Feeling anger at perceived injustice
Likely to cause resentment or anger
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Emotional Response
Personal sense of outrage
Actions or situations provoking resentment
Focus
Reaction to unfair treatment
Creating unfairness or discrimination
Nature
Emotional, spontaneous
Often deliberate, causing division
Context
Individual reaction
Situational characteristic
Compare with Definitions
Indignant
Feeling or showing anger at something perceived as unjust.
She was indignant when falsely accused of cheating.
Invidious
Likely to cause resentment or ill will.
The manager's invidious decision sparked controversy.
Indignant
Experiencing strong displeasure at an offense.
The indignant protesters demanded justice.
Invidious
Creating envy or anger by being unfairly discriminatory.
The invidious comparison between the employees caused tension.
Indignant
Showing righteous anger in response to wrongdoing.
She gave an indignant reply to the unfair criticism.
Invidious
Likely to arouse hostility or animosity.
The invidious nature of the tax law angered many citizens.
Indignant
Feeling morally outraged by injustice.
His indignant expression revealed his disapproval.
Invidious
Offensively discriminatory or unjust.
The policy was invidious, favoring one group over another.
Indignant
Reacting with outrage to unfair treatment.
He felt indignant about the biased article.
Invidious
Tending to provoke resentment or envy.
Her invidious remarks about her colleague's work were uncalled for.
Indignant
Characterized by or filled with indignation.
Invidious
(of an action or situation) likely to arouse or incur resentment or anger in others
She'd put herself in an invidious position
Indignant
Showing anger or indignation, especially at something unjust or wrong.
Invidious
Tending to rouse ill will, animosity, or resentment
Invidious accusations.
Indignant
Affected with indignation; wrathful; passionate; irate; feeling wrath, as when a person is exasperated by unworthy or unjust treatment, by a mean action, or by a degrading accusation.
He strides indignant, and with haughty criesTo single fight the fairy prince defies.
Invidious
Offensive and unfair
Invidious distinctions.
Indignant
Angered at something unjust or wrong;
An indignant denial
Incensed at the judges' unfairness
A look of outraged disbelief
Umbrageous at the loss of their territory
Invidious
(Archaic) Envious.
Invidious
Causing ill will, envy, or offense.
Invidious
(of a distinction) Offensively or unfairly discriminating.
Invidious
(obsolete) Envious, jealous.
Invidious
(obsolete) Detestable, hateful, odious.
Invidious
Envious; malignant.
Invidious
Worthy of envy; desirable; enviable.
Such a person appeareth in a far more honorable and invidious state than any prosperous man.
Invidious
Likely to or intended to incur or produce ill will, or to provoke envy or resentment; hateful; offensive; as, invidious distinctions.
Agamemnon found it an invidious affair to give the preference to any one of the Grecian heroes.
Invidious
Containing or implying a slight or showing prejudice;
Discriminatory attitudes and practices
Invidious comparisons
Common Curiosities
What does indignant mean?
Indignant means feeling or showing anger at something perceived as unjust or offensive.
Can someone feel indignant about an invidious action?
Yes, someone can feel indignant in response to an invidious action or situation.
How do indignant and invidious differ in context?
Indignant refers to a personal emotional response, while invidious refers to actions or situations causing resentment.
Can a person be invidious?
No, a person cannot be invidious, but their actions or remarks can be invidious.
What is an example of indignant behavior?
Protesting unfair treatment with anger and moral outrage is an example of indignant behavior.
What is an example of an invidious action?
Making a discriminatory remark that causes resentment is an example of an invidious action.
What does invidious mean?
Invidious describes actions or situations likely to cause resentment, envy, or anger due to unfairness.
What is the emotional tone of indignant?
The emotional tone of indignant is one of anger and moral outrage.
What is the emotional tone of invidious?
The emotional tone of invidious is negative, as it creates resentment and envy.
Can invidious actions be unintentional?
Yes, invidious actions can be unintentional but still provoke resentment due to their unfair nature.
Can indignant feelings lead to action?
Yes, indignant feelings often motivate people to take action against perceived injustices.
Is indignation always justified?
Indignation is a subjective feeling and may or may not be justified depending on the situation.
Are invidious actions always deliberate?
Not always; they can be unintentional but often have a deliberate element of unfairness.
Can indignant be used to describe a speech?
Yes, a speech expressing anger at injustice can be described as indignant.
Is it common to use invidious in everyday language?
No, invidious is less commonly used in everyday language compared to indignant.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
