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
Wendt's has an animal experience to meet the park's sloths and capybaras up close.
—
Lillian Metzmeier, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Oct. 2025
More memorable returning characters include Clawhauser (Nate Torrence), a fellow police officer and cheetah who loves to snack, and Flash (Raymond Persi), the sloth who works at the Department of Mammal Vehicles, also seem to be returning to the new movie.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 29 Sep. 2025
At Miami, Ward stood behind his offensive line and slung deep balls with the urgency of a strong-armed sloth.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 5 Sep. 2025
Photo of the day: Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest
A pack of elusive Arctic wolves in Canada, a sloth clinging to a barbed wire fence post in Costa Rica, a standoff between a lion and a cobra in Tanzania, a buck giving a mighty bellow in England.
—Jane Onyanga-Omara, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sloth
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Lillian Metzmeier, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Oct. 2025
More memorable returning characters include Clawhauser (Nate Torrence), a fellow police officer and cheetah who loves to snack, and Flash (Raymond Persi), the sloth who works at the Department of Mammal Vehicles, also seem to be returning to the new movie.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 29 Sep. 2025
At Miami, Ward stood behind his offensive line and slung deep balls with the urgency of a strong-armed sloth.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 5 Sep. 2025
Photo of the day: Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest
A pack of elusive Arctic wolves in Canada, a sloth clinging to a barbed wire fence post in Costa Rica, a standoff between a lion and a cobra in Tanzania, a buck giving a mighty bellow in England.
—Jane Onyanga-Omara, USA Today, 30 Aug. 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 6 Oct. 2025.
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