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 $100 admission includes food, beverages, live music, encounters with animals such as sloths and capybaras, and a silent auction.
—
Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Apr. 2026
There was a ficus tree directly next to the spa deck, a white hawk flying just below the clouds, and the leaves of a cecropia tree, where sloths typically sleep, peeking into my periphery.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 15 Apr. 2026
On the actor’s Instagram Stories over the weekend and reshared by fan sites, Bomer is seen in snaps holding an otter, cradling a sloth and cuddling a baby kangaroo, aka a joey.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
Also be sure to keep an eye out for wild sloth viewings all the while, as this region is full of them.
—Meghan Palmer, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sloth
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Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Apr. 2026
There was a ficus tree directly next to the spa deck, a white hawk flying just below the clouds, and the leaves of a cecropia tree, where sloths typically sleep, peeking into my periphery.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 15 Apr. 2026
On the actor’s Instagram Stories over the weekend and reshared by fan sites, Bomer is seen in snaps holding an otter, cradling a sloth and cuddling a baby kangaroo, aka a joey.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
Also be sure to keep an eye out for wild sloth viewings all the while, as this region is full of them.
—Meghan Palmer, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sloth
Cite this Entry
“Sloth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sloth. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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