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
There's a folder on his computer just for photos of sad sloths.
—
Sean Evans, Robb Report, 1 Apr. 2024
This Amazonian freshwater environment was nutrient-rich and teeming with life, home to crocodilians, turtles and fish, as well as mammals such as sloths, rodents, ungulates and primates.
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN, 26 Mar. 2024
The rest — a group that over the years has included lions, parrots, eagles, badgers, sloths, a capybara, a bearcat and an anteater — are usually just stopping through.
—Claire Fahy, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2024
For most of a sloth’s nutritional needs, a paltry diet of leaves will have to make do.
—Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 15 Jan. 2024
Lovers of wildlife can see monkeys, sloths, wildcats, whales, reptiles, and sea turtles in their natural habitats.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 12 Oct. 2023
The fossilized sloth’s resting place was also unique.
—Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 25 Jan. 2024
These fossils include thousands of osteoderms, bony plates in the sloth’s skin similar to the armor on an armadillo, to whom sloths are closely related.
—Ryan McRae, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Dec. 2023
The city may be moving at sloth speed, but Saweetie’s been working nonstop.
—Lakin Imani Starling, Allure, 29 Feb. 2024
Sean Evans, Robb Report, 1 Apr. 2024
This Amazonian freshwater environment was nutrient-rich and teeming with life, home to crocodilians, turtles and fish, as well as mammals such as sloths, rodents, ungulates and primates.
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN, 26 Mar. 2024
The rest — a group that over the years has included lions, parrots, eagles, badgers, sloths, a capybara, a bearcat and an anteater — are usually just stopping through.
—Claire Fahy, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2024
For most of a sloth’s nutritional needs, a paltry diet of leaves will have to make do.
—Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 15 Jan. 2024
Lovers of wildlife can see monkeys, sloths, wildcats, whales, reptiles, and sea turtles in their natural habitats.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 12 Oct. 2023
The fossilized sloth’s resting place was also unique.
—Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 25 Jan. 2024
These fossils include thousands of osteoderms, bony plates in the sloth’s skin similar to the armor on an armadillo, to whom sloths are closely related.
—Ryan McRae, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Dec. 2023
The city may be moving at sloth speed, but Saweetie’s been working nonstop.
—Lakin Imani Starling, Allure, 29 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sloth.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English slouthe, from slow slow
First Known Use
12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of sloth was
in the 12th century
Phrases Containing sloth
Articles Related to sloth
Dictionary Entries Near sloth
Cite this Entry
“Sloth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sloth. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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More from Merriam-Webster on sloth
Nglish: Translation of sloth for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of sloth for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sloth
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