Which adjective means likely to cause resentment?

Which adjective means likely to cause resentment?

• A. Harmless
• B. Benign
• C. Innocuous
• D. Invidious

Answer: (D)

The idea here is choosing a word that carries a sense of social unfairness and the resentment it can cause. Invidious means likely to arouse resentment or anger because of unfair treatment, discrimination, or a provocative comparison. It captures that bite of being designed to provoke envy or ill will, as in an invidious distinction or an invidious comparison. Harmless, benign, and innocuous all describe things that cause little or no harm or offense, so they miss that social-equity, resentment-provoking shade of meaning. That makes invidious the best fit for “likely to cause resentment.”

The idea here is choosing a word that carries a sense of social unfairness and the resentment it can cause. Invidious means likely to arouse resentment or anger because of unfair treatment, discrimination, or a provocative comparison. It captures that bite of being designed to provoke envy or ill will, as in an invidious distinction or an invidious comparison.

Harmless, benign, and innocuous all describe things that cause little or no harm or offense, so they miss that social-equity, resentment-provoking shade of meaning. That makes invidious the best fit for “likely to cause resentment.”