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
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
The scene highlighted a growing challenge for sloths as urban development fragments their forest homes, though hope emerged in new conservation corridors being built to reconnect their habitat.
—Doc Louallen, ABC News, 27 Aug. 2025
As their habitats become increasingly fragmented, sloths are forced to make more ground crossings to reach the safety of the next tree.
—Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sloth
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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
The scene highlighted a growing challenge for sloths as urban development fragments their forest homes, though hope emerged in new conservation corridors being built to reconnect their habitat.
—Doc Louallen, ABC News, 27 Aug. 2025
As their habitats become increasingly fragmented, sloths are forced to make more ground crossings to reach the safety of the next tree.
—Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 26 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 22 Sep. 2025.
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