1
as in sacrifice
voluntary restraint in the satisfaction of one's appetites
They moved off the grid to live a life of austerity.
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2
as in gruffness
the quality or state of being stern and serious in manner or appearance
His air of austerity tends to put others off.
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3
as in misery
the state of lacking sufficient money or material possessions
His family spent years living in austerity during the recession.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of austerity
Despite the austerity of her ambitions, there are moments of lush imagination that leaven the tone somewhat, like a dream sequence in which Teresa, furiously making bread in the middle of the night, is teased by an impish child.
—
Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2025
But in mid-August, with major tax cuts hitting and state revenues dropping, the governor responded by ordering spending cuts and other austerity measures — a sign that Idaho will be even tighter with money than usual in the coming year.
—Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 26 Aug. 2025
To escape this situation without crushing austerity measures, the government would almost certainly reach for heterodox options that are today more usually associated with emerging markets.
—Kenneth S. Rogoff, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025
Veterans like 2008 Olympic gold medalist Phil Dalhausser – competing in his last Manhattan Beach Open before retiring at 45 – prefer the briny sting of ocean air and relentless sunlight to the cold austerity of cavernous arenas.
—Devon Henderson, Oc Register, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for austerity
Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2025
But in mid-August, with major tax cuts hitting and state revenues dropping, the governor responded by ordering spending cuts and other austerity measures — a sign that Idaho will be even tighter with money than usual in the coming year.
—Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 26 Aug. 2025
To escape this situation without crushing austerity measures, the government would almost certainly reach for heterodox options that are today more usually associated with emerging markets.
—Kenneth S. Rogoff, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025
Veterans like 2008 Olympic gold medalist Phil Dalhausser – competing in his last Manhattan Beach Open before retiring at 45 – prefer the briny sting of ocean air and relentless sunlight to the cold austerity of cavernous arenas.
—Devon Henderson, Oc Register, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for austerity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for austerity
Noun
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In some societies, chickens are symbols of fertility and sacrifice; in others, they’re even considered divine.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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My own experience, and my wife’s sacrifice, gave me empathy for those with financial struggles.—
Brian Walsh,
Fortune,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Befriended by the aged proprietor of a now defunct Greek coast restaurant, the hen becomes an unwitting witness of human misery – greed, migrant trafficking, revenge upon revenge.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
6 Sep. 2025
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Task begins by setting up the parallels between Tom and Robbie, two flawed men trying to keep their heads above the water of their own miseries, cutting back and forth between their routines to emphasize their similar ideologies and spontaneities.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Battery dismantling requires skills that cross multiple disciplines.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Sep. 2025
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Hufnagel, a 60-year-old who graduated from Barry University’s School of Law in 2005 and joined the Bar later that year, had an otherwise clean 10-year discipline history.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Beyond their asceticism, the six members of the group - Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj, Manon Bannerman, Megan Skiendiel, Sophia Laforteza, and Yoonchae Jeung - hail from different countries, including the Philippines, South Korea, Switzerland, and the United States.—
Doug Melville,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
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Frayne writes that some second- and third-century sects, such as the Encratites, Priscilliantists, and Manicheans, advocated against meat eating, typically as part of a broader asceticism that might also include celibacy.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Some research shows creatine may help with mood disorders, potentially including postpartum depression, in addition to countering sleep deprivation.—
Matt Fuchs,
Time,
2 Sep. 2025
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Haley was found guilty of two counts of deprivation of rights resulting in bodily injury and two counts of tampering with a witness, victim or informant.—
Phil Helsel,
NBC news,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Americans for Prosperity ― Ogles' former employer and that of many of his congressional staff ― is a political special interest group that advocates for limited government, free markets and fiscal restraint.—
Vivian Jones,
Nashville Tennessean,
5 Sep. 2025
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Enyedi has often made meditative cinema, but here her restraint in some sequences verges on suffocating.—
Leila Latif,
IndieWire,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Quick hits Tigers reliever Kyle Finnegan suffered right groin tightness while warming up during Wednesday's game, and the severity of the injury is unclear.—
Christian Romo,
Freep.com,
4 Sep. 2025
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While the time can vary based on many circumstances such as the type, severity, and location of the bruise, many bruises last for about two weeks.—
Marisa Garshick,
Verywell Health,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Was the specter of Cracker Barrel’s collapse and bankruptcy a mere fancy?—
Graham Hillard,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
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About The Daily Money Each weekday, The Daily Money delivers the best consumer and financial news from USA TODAY, breaking down complex events, providing the TLDR version, and explaining how everything from Fed rate changes to bankruptcies impacts you.—
Betty Lin-Fisher,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Austerity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/austerity. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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