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
This trip is for those who want to immerse themselves in a natural world full of sloths, monkeys, macaws, and toucans on the Osa Peninsula, one of the most biodiverse places on the planet.
—
Everett Potter, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025
Researchers say that the abundance of horses at the site hints at what the landscape looked like around 500,000 years ago, while the assemblage as a whole — with armadillos, sloths, and tapirs as well as horses — reveals the trajectories of evolution throughout the period.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 21 Feb. 2025
The zoologist who first named the species did think the bears were related to tree sloths because of their long, thick claws and unusual teeth but later research found that the two animals had no connection.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2025
There's a folder on his computer just for photos of sad sloths.
—Sean Evans, Robb Report, 5 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sloth
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Everett Potter, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025
Researchers say that the abundance of horses at the site hints at what the landscape looked like around 500,000 years ago, while the assemblage as a whole — with armadillos, sloths, and tapirs as well as horses — reveals the trajectories of evolution throughout the period.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 21 Feb. 2025
The zoologist who first named the species did think the bears were related to tree sloths because of their long, thick claws and unusual teeth but later research found that the two animals had no connection.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2025
There's a folder on his computer just for photos of sad sloths.
—Sean Evans, Robb Report, 5 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sloth
Articles Related to sloth
Cite this Entry
“Sloth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sloth. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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