Table of Contents
invidious
Meaning:
Tending to cause discontent, animosity or envy; of an unpleasant or objectionable nature; obnoxious; likely to arouse anger or resentment among others
Usage:
Smith was angered by the invidious gossip about his divorce being spread by his ex-wife’s allies
sinecure
Meaning:
An office that requires minimal duties; a cushy job that pays well but involves minimal work; a job or position that pays while requiring little or no work
Usage:
He was the brother of the CEO and therefore was offered a sinecure in the company: he showed up each day and collected a pay cheque, but others actually did his work
nadir
Meaning:
The lowest point; an extreme state of adversity; the lowest point of anything; rock bottom
Usage:
He insisted that an international nadir had been reached and that performances had to improve immediately
But just as I had reached the nadir of my despair, I caught a glimpse of a picture up on my wall
blip
Noun
Meaning:
An unexpected, minor and typically temporary deviation from a general trend
Usage:
He views the Air Force game as a particularly bad blip, not the nadir of a downward trend
The Finance Minister dismissed the rising inflation as a blip
nettle
Verb
Meaning:
To irritate or annoy someone; exasperate; vex
Usage:
The mayor’s recent actions have nettled some members of the community