I retain distressed sloth (7)

I believe the answer is:

inertia

'sloth' is the definition.
(inertia can mean laziness or sloth)

'i retain distressed' is the wordplay.
'distressed' indicates anagramming the letters.
'retain' is an anagram of 'nertia'.
'i'+'nertia'='INERTIA'

(Other definitions for inertia that I've seen before include "Listlessness" , "'Sluggishness, indolence (7)'" , "Disposition to do nothing" , "I earn it (anag.)" , "Slowness to act, lack of strength" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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