An adjective meaning offensive or likely to incite bitterness is ______.

An adjective meaning offensive or likely to incite bitterness is ______.

• A. Fealty
• B. Lugubrious
• C. Actuary
• D. Invidious

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is choosing a word that describes something offensive or likely to provoke bitterness or ill will in others. The term that fits is invidious. It’s used for remarks, actions, or distinctions that are designed to provoke envy, resentment, or unfair dislike. The sense comes from the idea of inciting negative feelings—often by highlighting a bias or creating a discriminatory or unfair contrast. For example, an invidious remark or a policy that pits one group against another would be understood as intentionally hurtful and provocative. Fealty refers to loyalty, not offensiveness. Lugubrious means mournful or gloomy. An actuary is a statistician who calculates risk for insurance and finance. These don’t convey the sense of provoking bitterness, which is why they don’t fit as well.

The main idea here is choosing a word that describes something offensive or likely to provoke bitterness or ill will in others. The term that fits is invidious. It’s used for remarks, actions, or distinctions that are designed to provoke envy, resentment, or unfair dislike. The sense comes from the idea of inciting negative feelings—often by highlighting a bias or creating a discriminatory or unfair contrast. For example, an invidious remark or a policy that pits one group against another would be understood as intentionally hurtful and provocative.

Fealty refers to loyalty, not offensiveness. Lugubrious means mournful or gloomy. An actuary is a statistician who calculates risk for insurance and finance. These don’t convey the sense of provoking bitterness, which is why they don’t fit as well.