slothful

adjective

sloth·​ful ˈslȯth-fəl How to pronounce slothful (audio)
ˈsläth-,
 also  ˈslōth-
Synonyms of slothfulnext
: inclined to sloth : indolent
slothfully
ˈslȯth-fə-lē How to pronounce slothful (audio)
ˈsläth-
 also  ˈslōth-
adverb
slothfulness noun

Synonyms

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus
Choose the Right Synonym for slothful

lazy, indolent, slothful mean not easily aroused to activity.

lazy suggests a disinclination to work or to take trouble.

take-out foods for lazy cooks

indolent suggests a love of ease and a dislike of movement or activity.

the heat made us indolent

slothful implies a temperamental inability to act promptly or speedily when action or speed is called for.

fired for being slothful about filling orders

Examples of slothful in a Sentence

his overly lax managerial style has resulted in a department that is slothful and unproductive
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.
Soviet Russia, too, experienced periodic panics about slothful bureaucrats impeding the dictatorship of the proletariat. — Charlie Tyson, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2025 At our test track, the buzzy little SUV needed a slothful 9.2 seconds to hit 60 mph. — Drew Dorian, Car and Driver, 23 Dec. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of slothful was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

sloth bear
slothful
sloth monkey
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Slothful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slothful. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.

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