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
Scan the mangroves for monkeys and sloths, and enjoy the approach to Corcovado from the waves.
—
Calin Van Paris, Outside Online, 18 Apr. 2025
Getting closer also means a higher chance to spot various bird species, monkeys, sloths, river otters, turtles and caimans.
—Emese MacZko, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Follows a speedy 12-year-old sloth named Laura whose odd sloth family is left homeless by a devastating storm.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 28 Feb. 2025
There are currently 200 animal species already at the park, including tigers, elephants and sloths.
—Eve Chen, USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sloth
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Calin Van Paris, Outside Online, 18 Apr. 2025
Getting closer also means a higher chance to spot various bird species, monkeys, sloths, river otters, turtles and caimans.
—Emese MacZko, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Follows a speedy 12-year-old sloth named Laura whose odd sloth family is left homeless by a devastating storm.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 28 Feb. 2025
There are currently 200 animal species already at the park, including tigers, elephants and sloths.
—Eve Chen, USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 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 1 May. 2025.
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