Invidious vs. Odious — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on May 12, 2024
Invidious refers to actions likely to arouse resentment or anger in others due to unfairness, whereas odious describes something extremely unpleasant or repulsive.
Difference Between Invidious and Odious
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Invidious often implies a sense of unfairness or prejudice that leads to envy or resentment, such as invidious comparisons or distinctions, whereas odious is used to describe something that evokes intense displeasure or disgust, such as odious crimes.
The term invidious is typically applied in contexts where discrimination or comparison unfairly disadvantages someone, fostering animosity. In contrast, odious is used for things universally recognized as repellent or morally repugnant.
Invidious can cause social discord by highlighting unjust differences between individuals or groups, while odious often refers to moral judgments about actions or characteristics deemed highly offensive.
Situations described as invidious are usually delicate and involve social interactions, suggesting subtlety and complexity. On the other hand, situations or objects described as odious are straightforwardly and overwhelmingly negative.
While both terms carry negative connotations, invidious often involves a relational aspect among people, focusing on the dynamics and consequences of discrimination. Odious, however, is more about a direct, visceral reaction to something distinctly unpleasant or revolting.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Arousing resentment through unfair comparisons
Extremely unpleasant or repulsive
Usage Context
Social interactions, comparisons, discrimination
Moral judgments, describing actions or traits
Emotional Response
Resentment, envy
Disgust, intense displeasure
Complexity
Often involves subtle social dynamics
Direct and strong negative reaction
Typical Associations
Unfairness, discrimination, envy
Repellence, moral repugnance, disgust
Compare with Definitions
Invidious
Of an action or situation: likely to incur resentment or anger.
The new regulation was seen as invidious by the community.
Odious
Highly offensive; repugnant; disgusting.
The smell from the decaying food was odious.
Invidious
Unpleasantly discriminatory or likely to cause envy.
He made an invidious comparison between his two employees.
Odious
Evoking intense aversion or dislike.
His actions were considered odious by everyone in the village.
Invidious
Tending to cause discontent, animosity, or envy.
The awards created an invidious distinction among team members.
Odious
Characterized by or deserving strong disgust.
The corrupt official's behavior was seen as odious.
Invidious
(of an action or situation) likely to arouse or incur resentment or anger in others
She'd put herself in an invidious position
Odious
Extremely unpleasant; repulsive.
The odious task of cleaning the sewage spill fell to the new recruits.
Invidious
Tending to rouse ill will, animosity, or resentment
Invidious accusations.
Odious
Deserving or causing hatred; hateful; detestable.
The dictator was responsible for several odious crimes against humanity.
Invidious
Offensive and unfair
Invidious distinctions.
Odious
Arousing or deserving hatred or strong dislike.
Invidious
(Archaic) Envious.
Odious
Extremely unpleasant; repulsive
An odious smell.
Invidious
Causing ill will, envy, or offense.
Odious
Arousing or meriting strong dislike, aversion, or intense displeasure.
Scrubbing the toilets in the bar at the end of a Saturday night is an odious task.
Invidious
(of a distinction) Offensively or unfairly discriminating.
Odious
Hateful; deserving or receiving hatred; as, an odious name, system, vice.
He rendered himself odious to the Parliament.
Invidious
(obsolete) Envious, jealous.
Odious
Causing or provoking hatred, repugnance, or disgust; offensive; disagreeable; repulsive; as, an odious sight; an odious smell.
The odious side of that polity.
Invidious
(obsolete) Detestable, hateful, odious.
Odious
Unequivocally detestable;
Abominable treatment of prisoners
Detestable vices
Execrable crimes
Consequences odious to those you govern
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
Invidious
Likely to arouse resentment or anger in others because of unfairness.
The invidious policy prioritized some students over others without justification.
Invidious
Offensively or unfairly discriminating.
Her remarks were criticized as invidious and divisive.
Common Curiosities
Can a person be described as odious?
Yes, describing a person as odious implies they are repugnant or highly disagreeable.
Is invidious discrimination legal?
Invidious discrimination is generally illegal and unethical as it involves unfair treatment based on personal characteristics.
What does invidious mean?
Invidious refers to something that is likely to arouse resentment or envy, particularly through unfairness.
How does invidious differ from odious?
Invidious often involves unfairness leading to resentment, while odious refers to something inherently repulsive or detestable.
What can make a law odious?
A law that grossly violates basic human rights would be considered odious.
What synonyms can be used for odious?
Repulsive, disgusting, or detestable are synonyms for odious.
What does odious mean?
Odious describes something that is extremely unpleasant, repulsive, or deserving of hatred.
Can a smell be odious?
Yes, odious is often used to describe intensely unpleasant smells.
Are invidious and odious interchangeable?
No, invidious relates more to the effects of unfairness in social contexts, whereas odious is about the inherent unpleasantness of something.
Can an action be both invidious and odious?
Yes, an action can be both if it is unfairly discriminatory (invidious) and morally repugnant (odious).
What synonyms can be used for invidious?
Discriminatory, divisive, or partial can be synonyms for invidious.
Why might a policy be criticized as invidious?
A policy could be criticized as invidious if it treats groups of people unfairly or fosters inequality.
What is an example of an invidious comparison?
Comparing two employees' performance publicly in a way that demeans one is invidious.
How can an environment be invidious?
An environment that promotes unfair advantage or discrimination can be described as invidious.
How is odious used in legal or formal contexts?
Odious can describe actions or policies especially repugnant to accepted moral standards, such as "odious debt" in international law.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
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.
