sloth

noun

ˈslȯth How to pronounce sloth (audio)
ˈsläth,
also
ˈslōth How to pronounce sloth (audio)
plural sloths ˈslȯths How to pronounce sloth (audio)
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

Illustration of sloth

Illustration of sloth
  • sloth 2

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
What makes this one different is the appearance of actual, live animals that visitors can see up close, including snakes, reptiles and one extremely slow-moving sloth. Ray Mark Rinaldi, The Denver Post, 30 Oct. 2024 There's a folder on his computer just for photos of sad sloths. Sean Evans, Robb Report, 30 Oct. 2024 The forest itself also has an array of wildlife including squirrel monkeys, iguanas, sloths and more. Celia Fernandez, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2024 The animals at Jungle Island — including lemurs, sloths and capybaras — would be transferred to new caretakers. Martin Vassolo, Axios, 18 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for sloth 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English slouthe, from slow slow

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of sloth was in the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near sloth

Cite this Entry

“Sloth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sloth. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

sloth

noun
plural sloths
ˈslȯths,
ˈslȯṯẖz
1
: the quality or state of being lazy
2
: any of several slow-moving mammals of the tropical forests of Central and South America that are related to the armadillos, live in trees, and feed on leaves, shoots, and fruits

More from Merriam-Webster on sloth

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