Sloth
noun
A slow-moving tropical American mammal that hangs upside down from branches of trees using its long limbs and hooklike claws.
The sloth spends most of its time hanging in the trees.
Often appears as...
- three-toed sloth
- two-toed sloth
noun
Reluctance or laziness to work or make an effort; reluctance to move fast or physically exert oneself.
His sloth caused him to fail his classes.
Often appears as...
- sloth and laziness
- sloth of mind
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
A deadly sin in Christianity, usually involving laziness or indifference in matters of God.
He confessed to the sin of sloth.
Often appears as...
- sin of sloth
- sloth is a deadly sin
Usage tips
Disapproving
Academic
noun
A slow-moving tropical American mammal that hangs upside down from branches of trees using its long limbs and hooklike claws.
The sloth spends most of its time hanging in the trees.
Often appears as...
- three-toed sloth
- two-toed sloth
noun
Reluctance or laziness to work or make an effort; reluctance to move fast or physically exert oneself.
His sloth caused him to fail his classes.
Often appears as...
- sloth and laziness
- sloth of mind
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
A deadly sin in Christianity, usually involving laziness or indifference in matters of God.
He confessed to the sin of sloth.
Often appears as...
- sin of sloth
- sloth is a deadly sin
Usage tips
Disapproving
Academic
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Animal Context
Use 'sloth' to specifically describe the mammal living in tropical climates, not any slow animal.
The documentary featured a sloth in its natural habitat.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Insulting
'Sloth' as an animal is neutral, not an insult or a negative term.
Seeing a sloth at the zoo was an exciting experience.
Pro Tip 3/3Hanging Upside Down
'Sloth' emphasizes the animal's unique behavior of living life mostly upside down.
The sloth's claws are adapted to hang from branches with ease.
Pro Tip 1/3Animal Context
Use 'sloth' to specifically describe the mammal living in tropical climates, not any slow animal.
The documentary featured a sloth in its natural habitat.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Insulting
'Sloth' as an animal is neutral, not an insult or a negative term.
Seeing a sloth at the zoo was an exciting experience.
Pro Tip 3/3Hanging Upside Down
'Sloth' emphasizes the animal's unique behavior of living life mostly upside down.
The sloth's claws are adapted to hang from branches with ease.
Pro Tip 1/3Animal Context
Use 'sloth' to specifically describe the mammal living in tropical climates, not any slow animal.
The documentary featured a sloth in its natural habitat.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Insulting
'Sloth' as an animal is neutral, not an insult or a negative term.
Seeing a sloth at the zoo was an exciting experience.
Pro Tip 3/3Hanging Upside Down
'Sloth' emphasizes the animal's unique behavior of living life mostly upside down.
The sloth's claws are adapted to hang from branches with ease.
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Video examples
Why are sloths so slow?...
They descend from the canopy just once a week for a bathroom break. When sloths do move, it's not very fast. It would take a sloth about five minutes to cross an average neighborhood street. This unhurried approach to life means that sloths don't need very much muscle.
Video examples
The 'Busy' Life of the...
And why does it nearly always choose to do so in exactly the same place? Whatever the reason, it must be very important, for a sloth on the ground is almost helpless. Any predator could attack it and it doesn't have the speed to escape.
Video examples
How a single-celled...
Cyanobacteria are still around in almost every environment on oceans, fresh water, soil, antarctic rocks, sloth fur. They still pump oxygen into the atmosphere, and they also pull nitrogen out to fertilize the plants they helped create.
Video examples
Can Sloths Kill You? PIPE...
People don't quite realize how slow. Sloths are obviously renowned for being slow. But when your life and your work kind of revolves around them, the slowness, it feels soul destroying. But in the loveliest way.
Video examples
Sloths! The strange life...
in the fast-paced race for survival. Well, I'm here to tell you that we've got this animal all wrong -- and how understanding the truth about the sloth may help save us and this planet we both call home.
Video examples
BBC Earth 50 Top Natural...
why does it come down to the ground to do it and why does it nearly always choose to do so in exactly the same place whatever the reason it must be very important for a sloth on the ground is
Video examples
Bear Power PIPE Prehistoric...
was protection against smaller predators like the saber-tooth cat or dire wolf like today's elephants on the African plains the sloths massive size made it difficult to kill if a sloth was
Video examples
Sir David Attenborough...
a sloth on the ground is almost helpless any predator could attack it and it doesn't have the speed to escape why it comes down in this way is a mystery nobody knows now he's finished
Video examples
Zoologist spots Three...
sloths spend most of their lives high up in the canopy finding one so low in the tree is rare bryson has studied them for many years this is a great opportunity to examine
Video examples
Three-Toed Sloth...
tree trunk you'll see hundreds of Aztecas ants they protect the tree almost like tiny security guards the sloths presence has not gone unnoticed
Video examples
Why are sloths so slow?...
They descend from the canopy just once a week for a bathroom break. When sloths do move, it's not very fast. It would take a sloth about five minutes to cross an average neighborhood street. This unhurried approach to life means that sloths don't need very much muscle.
Video examples
The 'Busy' Life of the...
And why does it nearly always choose to do so in exactly the same place? Whatever the reason, it must be very important, for a sloth on the ground is almost helpless. Any predator could attack it and it doesn't have the speed to escape.
Video examples
How a single-celled...
Cyanobacteria are still around in almost every environment on oceans, fresh water, soil, antarctic rocks, sloth fur. They still pump oxygen into the atmosphere, and they also pull nitrogen out to fertilize the plants they helped create.
Video examples
Can Sloths Kill You? PIPE...
People don't quite realize how slow. Sloths are obviously renowned for being slow. But when your life and your work kind of revolves around them, the slowness, it feels soul destroying. But in the loveliest way.
Video examples
Sloths! The strange life...
in the fast-paced race for survival. Well, I'm here to tell you that we've got this animal all wrong -- and how understanding the truth about the sloth may help save us and this planet we both call home.
Video examples
BBC Earth 50 Top Natural...
why does it come down to the ground to do it and why does it nearly always choose to do so in exactly the same place whatever the reason it must be very important for a sloth on the ground is
Video examples
Bear Power PIPE Prehistoric...
was protection against smaller predators like the saber-tooth cat or dire wolf like today's elephants on the African plains the sloths massive size made it difficult to kill if a sloth was
Video examples
Sir David Attenborough...
a sloth on the ground is almost helpless any predator could attack it and it doesn't have the speed to escape why it comes down in this way is a mystery nobody knows now he's finished
Video examples
Zoologist spots Three...
sloths spend most of their lives high up in the canopy finding one so low in the tree is rare bryson has studied them for many years this is a great opportunity to examine
Video examples
Three-Toed Sloth...
tree trunk you'll see hundreds of Aztecas ants they protect the tree almost like tiny security guards the sloths presence has not gone unnoticed
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
George Saunders
American Writer
Fiction is a kind of compassion-generating machine that saves us from sloth. Is life kind or cruel? Yes, Literature answers. Are people good or bad? You bet, says Literature. But unlike other systems of knowing, Literature declines to eradicate one truth in favor of another.
Quote examples
Anthony Bourdain
American Author
Oh yes, there's lots of great food in America. But the fast food is about as destructive and evil as it gets. It celebrates a mentality of sloth, convenience, and a cheerful embrace of food we know is hurting us.
Quote examples
Al Jourgensen
Cuban Musician
I'm an all-or-nothing guy. When I'm working, I work, work, work, work, work, and when I'm not, I'm the laziest sloth this planet has ever provided us.
Quote examples
Sarah MacLean
American Author
As winter approaches - bringing cold weather and family drama - we crave page-turners, books made for long nights and tryptophan-induced sloth.
Quote examples
Reid Hoffman
American Businessman
Social networks do best when they tap into one of the seven deadly sins. Facebook is ego. Zynga is sloth. LinkedIn is greed.
Quote examples
Larry David
American Actor
My background is degradation and sloth, mostly.
Quote examples
Horace
Roman Poet
You must avoid sloth, that wicked siren.
Quote examples
Toussaint Louverture
Haitian Leader
Avoid sloth, the mother of all vices!
Quote examples
Mason Cooley
American Writer
Sloth, not ill-will, makes me unjust.
Quote examples
Lydia Millet
American Novelist
I'm for any woman who loves sloths.
Quote examples
George Saunders
American Writer
Fiction is a kind of compassion-generating machine that saves us from sloth. Is life kind or cruel? Yes, Literature answers. Are people good or bad? You bet, says Literature. But unlike other systems of knowing, Literature declines to eradicate one truth in favor of another.
Quote examples
Anthony Bourdain
American Author
Oh yes, there's lots of great food in America. But the fast food is about as destructive and evil as it gets. It celebrates a mentality of sloth, convenience, and a cheerful embrace of food we know is hurting us.
Quote examples
Al Jourgensen
Cuban Musician
I'm an all-or-nothing guy. When I'm working, I work, work, work, work, work, and when I'm not, I'm the laziest sloth this planet has ever provided us.
Quote examples
Sarah MacLean
American Author
As winter approaches - bringing cold weather and family drama - we crave page-turners, books made for long nights and tryptophan-induced sloth.
Quote examples
Reid Hoffman
American Businessman
Social networks do best when they tap into one of the seven deadly sins. Facebook is ego. Zynga is sloth. LinkedIn is greed.
Quote examples
Larry David
American Actor
My background is degradation and sloth, mostly.
Quote examples
Horace
Roman Poet
You must avoid sloth, that wicked siren.
Quote examples
Toussaint Louverture
Haitian Leader
Avoid sloth, the mother of all vices!
Quote examples
Mason Cooley
American Writer
Sloth, not ill-will, makes me unjust.
Quote examples
Lydia Millet
American Novelist
I'm for any woman who loves sloths.
Example 1 of 10
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