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
Golden sunsets, rocky coves, offshore islands, and abundant wildlife (monkeys, sloths, toucans) add visual richness.
—
Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 2 July 2025
From the highest point of the park, which runs along the Continental Divide and looks out over the beaches of San Juan del Sur, a series of zip lines take visitors through the canopy, providing occasional glimpses of monkeys and sloths from the property’s viewing platforms.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 15 June 2025
Zoo guests in Minnesota were the surprise witnesses to the birth of a baby sloth, one even the zoo staff didn’t see coming.
—Rhiannon Saegert, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2025
There's a folder on his computer just for photos of sad sloths.
—Sean Evans, Robb Report, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sloth
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Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 2 July 2025
From the highest point of the park, which runs along the Continental Divide and looks out over the beaches of San Juan del Sur, a series of zip lines take visitors through the canopy, providing occasional glimpses of monkeys and sloths from the property’s viewing platforms.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 15 June 2025
Zoo guests in Minnesota were the surprise witnesses to the birth of a baby sloth, one even the zoo staff didn’t see coming.
—Rhiannon Saegert, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2025
There's a folder on his computer just for photos of sad sloths.
—Sean Evans, Robb Report, 17 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 Aug. 2025.
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