Illustration of sloth
- sloth 2
plural sloths
ˈslȯths 
ˈslȯṯẖz,
ˈsläths,
ˈsläṯẖz,
also ˈslōths,
ˈslōṯẖz
1
a
: disinclination to action or labor : indolence
b
: spiritual apathy and inactivity
the deadly sin of sloth
2
: any of various slow-moving arboreal edentate mammals (genera Bradypus and Choloepus) that inhabit tropical forests of South and Central America, hang from the branches back downward, and feed on leaves, shoots, and fruits compare three-toed sloth, two-toed sloth
Examples of sloth in a Sentence
the sins of gluttony and sloth
a youth inclined more toward sloth than athletics
Recent Examples on the Web
The aquatic sloth Thalassocnus even evolved marine adaptations similar to manatees.
—
Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 May 2025
Unlike modern-day sloths that typically stay in trees, this sloth spent most of its time on the ground, walking on its flat feet and at times standing on its hind legs, the Illinois State Museum reported.
—Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 27 May 2025
In addition to the park’s approximated 135 tigers, wildlife sightings can also include leopards, sloth bears (no relation to sloths), elephants, and over 250 species of birds.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 23 May 2025
Dire wolves mostly ate horses and bison, with occasional forays into giant sloths and baby mammoths.
—D. T. Max, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
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Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 May 2025
Unlike modern-day sloths that typically stay in trees, this sloth spent most of its time on the ground, walking on its flat feet and at times standing on its hind legs, the Illinois State Museum reported.
—Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 27 May 2025
In addition to the park’s approximated 135 tigers, wildlife sightings can also include leopards, sloth bears (no relation to sloths), elephants, and over 250 species of birds.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 23 May 2025
Dire wolves mostly ate horses and bison, with occasional forays into giant sloths and baby mammoths.
—D. T. Max, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sloth
Cite this Entry
“Sloth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sloth. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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