1
as in strict
given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint
an austere conductor who is as tough on himself as he is on the orchestra
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in gruff
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance
an austere fortress at the top of some formidable cliffs
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in spartan
providing only the essentials and nothing fancy or luxurious
for the private office of the CEO of the large corporation, the room is unexpectedly austere
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Recent Examples of austere
Unless designed with care, xeriscapes can look bare and austere.
—
Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 30 Apr. 2026
The land outside is similarly undeveloped, continuing inland to Sartène, with its medieval warren of streets and austere granite houses on a rocky outcrop, or east along the coast to Bonifacio, a former Genoese stronghold with a deep, narrow harbor cutting through towering chalk cliffs.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Hungary’s incoming premier today showed investors how austere he is compared to his forerunner.
—Jonathan Tirone, Bloomberg, 16 Apr. 2026
Stabilization requires austere monetary and fiscal measures, and in some cases, the adoption of a new or foreign currency.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for austere
Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 30 Apr. 2026
The land outside is similarly undeveloped, continuing inland to Sartène, with its medieval warren of streets and austere granite houses on a rocky outcrop, or east along the coast to Bonifacio, a former Genoese stronghold with a deep, narrow harbor cutting through towering chalk cliffs.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Hungary’s incoming premier today showed investors how austere he is compared to his forerunner.
—Jonathan Tirone, Bloomberg, 16 Apr. 2026
Stabilization requires austere monetary and fiscal measures, and in some cases, the adoption of a new or foreign currency.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for austere
Recent Examples of Synonyms for austere
Adjective
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And Shuter is also reporting that Lively wanted a strict NDA during settlement negotiations, but the Baldoni camp refused.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
11 May 2026
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Baltimore residents support stricter penalties Parents who spoke to WJZ-TV supported stricter penalties.—
Drew Aunkst,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
Adjective
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Apparently, the gruff fighter Johnny Cage wasn’t much of a match for the all-powerful Miranda Priestly.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
10 May 2026
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Iron Maiden’s singer when Smith joined, Di’Anno, had short hair and a uniquely gruff voice but couldn’t cut it on the road.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Six weeks later, most of the American passengers who were aboard the MV Hondius are now in small, spartan rooms with a bed and an exercise bike at the National Quarantine Unit in Omaha, Nebraska, facing potential weeks of isolation.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
12 May 2026
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The overall aesthetic was slightly ascetic without being spartan—a pale, neutral color palette; simple, modern furniture; a few pieces of abstract art.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The scheme has been so successful, law enforcement has created a joint FBI-National Security Division task force to disrupt the operations and have dealt a series of harsh prison terms to American accomplices who have willingly aided the North Koreans.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
14 May 2026
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To fully embody her OnlyFans persona, an earthside alien named The Hungry Ghost, who offers mild nudity and harsh criticism of her willing subscribers’ genitalia.—
Alli Rosenbloom,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
Adjective
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Both those films centered on women whose grim worlds were closing in on them — a tomboyish auto mechanic in Closeness; a nurse and the frontline friend who turns on her in Beanpole.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
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In a world living in the shadow of the mushroom cloud, the vault was a grim reminder that after nearly two hundred years, the American experiment needed to be defended.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 May 2026
Adjective
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The useful answer may be simpler than expected once the real priority becomes obvious.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
14 May 2026
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The decor with sheepskin rugs and arm lamps for reading lights is neither flashy nor overtly quirky, but simple and homey, as if it were designed by a tasteful Scandinavian grandmother who relocated to the wilds of Patagonia.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 May 2026
Adjective
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Each of those teams will be competing for playoff spots again, leaving the Raiders with no easy divisional wins and a tough out-of-division schedule.—
Sam Warren,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
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The group did just enough against Sale and a tough Braves bullpen to avoid getting shut out for the third time in five games.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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Yet Gilgeous-Alexander’s own diagnosis of his night, stern and accountable, showed no trace of concern.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
6 May 2026
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His father, a billboard magnate, was a stern man who would whip his son with a razor strap for stepping out of line, but the youngster refused to capitulate to his dad’s authority.—
Paul Bond,
HollywoodReporter,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Austere.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/austere. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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