slothful

1 of 2

adjective

sloth·​ful ˈslȯth-fəl 

ˈsläth-

also ˈslōth-

: inclined to sloth : indolent

slothfully

ˈslȯth-fə-lē 

ˈsläth-

also ˈslōth-

adverb

slothfulness noun

slothfulness

2 of 2

noun

sloth·​ful·​ness

-fəlnə̇s

plural -es

: the quality or state of being slothful

that dim slothfulness of the spirit which a great sorrow … will bring

—Mary Webb

Synonyms of slothful

Adjective

• lazy
• idle

Choose the Right Synonym for slothful

lazy, indolent, slothful mean not easily aroused to activity.

lazy suggests a disinclination to work or to take trouble.

take-out foods for lazy cooks

indolent suggests a love of ease and a dislike of movement or activity.

the heat made us indolent

slothful implies a temperamental inability to act promptly or speedily when action or speed is called for.

fired for being slothful about filling orders

Examples of slothful in a Sentence

Adjective

his overly lax managerial style has resulted in a department that is slothful and unproductive

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

That they would be regarded as slothful morons who aren't worth the price of a ticket of admission. — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 2 Feb. 2026

Soviet Russia, too, experienced periodic panics about slothful bureaucrats impeding the dictatorship of the proletariat. — Charlie Tyson, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2025

At our test track, the buzzy little SUV needed a slothful 9.2 seconds to hit 60 mph. — Drew Dorian, Car and Driver, 23 Dec. 2022

Procrastination can be slothful or prudent, a vice or a virtue, depending on your habits and the tasks at hand. — Arthur C. Brooks, The Atlantic, 16 Dec. 2021

Selfish, feckless, self-deluded, weak-willed yet childishly willful, manipulative, slothful, and mendacious: How can such a despicable character also be such a likable one? — Sigrid Nunez, Harper's Magazine, 28 Sep. 2021

After releasing 12 albums in 13 months, Twin Cities guitarist Cory Wong will end his momentarily slothful ways and drop just his second album this year. — Jon Bream, Star Tribune, 11 May 2021

The pilfered offspring return with the raiders to their nests, then hatch and grow up to become live-in slaves, tasked with the feeding and care of their slothful masters and their masters’ brood. — Brendan Borrell, Discover Magazine, 10 Apr. 2013

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

slothful

adjective

sloth·​ful ˈslȯth-fəl 

ˈslōth-

: lazy sense 1, sluggish, indolent

slothfully

-fə-lē 

adverb