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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of austerity
Brown says the championship game sold out months ago at rates that are comparable to NFL games, and that overall tournament ad sales are pacing nearly 200 percent above last year, an enormous increase at a moment where the overall ad business is still embracing a certain amount of austerity.
—
Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2025
Sheinbaum’s allies pointed out that the line had been built long before her time—and that López Obrador had imposed stringent austerity measures, gutting institutions across the government.
—Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
Greece started its golden visa program in 2013 to stabilize housing prices and stimulate growth in a country facing a recession, skyrocketing unemployment, and austerity measures imposed by international lenders.
—Meehika Barua, HubSpot, 18 Apr. 2025
Bond vigilantes — who unload holdings in government securities to make a point about harmful policies — are viewed as driving countries like Italy and Greece to adopt austerity measures years ago.
—Susan Tompor, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for austerity
Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2025
Sheinbaum’s allies pointed out that the line had been built long before her time—and that López Obrador had imposed stringent austerity measures, gutting institutions across the government.
—Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
Greece started its golden visa program in 2013 to stabilize housing prices and stimulate growth in a country facing a recession, skyrocketing unemployment, and austerity measures imposed by international lenders.
—Meehika Barua, HubSpot, 18 Apr. 2025
Bond vigilantes — who unload holdings in government securities to make a point about harmful policies — are viewed as driving countries like Italy and Greece to adopt austerity measures years ago.
—Susan Tompor, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for austerity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for austerity
Noun
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The memories of our hero’s sacrifice are forgotten no more.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
13 May 2025
-
In The Death of Klinghoffer, the title character mildly accepts the mantle of sacrifice against a backdrop of endless violence.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
13 May 2025
Noun
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Some of his misery has resulted from brilliant deflections or bad bounces off of his defencemen, but Hellebuyck is responsible for enough of his problems to earn the unwanted attention.—
Murat Ates,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
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Strangling the dog to put it out of its misery could be seen as both an act of cruelty and an act of generosity, and that contradiction is interesting.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Controversially, the plan also included converting campus libraries into student discipline spaces.—
Silas Allen,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
19 May 2025
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For most of the season, the Mets have maintained their plate discipline; their 18.6 percent strikeout rate with runners in scoring position ranks as the fifth-best in MLB.—
Will Sammon,
New York Times,
19 May 2025
Noun
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Departments & Columns The Week The Week NR Editors Tariffs will either inaugurate a new era of asceticism or opulence.—
Daniel Foster,
National Review,
15 May 2025
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Upon his election, Bergoglio took the name Francis after Saint Francis of Assisi, who was known for his asceticism and ministry to the poor.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
23 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Doughty was sentenced to two years probation after pleading guilty to deprivation of rights under color of law.—
Jennifer Rodriguez,
Kansas City Star,
14 May 2025
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Earlier this year, a jury found Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Trevor Kirk guilty of felony deprivation of rights by use of excessive force.—
Mike Fox,
Oc Register,
12 May 2025
Noun
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Director Maja Novakovic strikes a balance between restraint and gentle nudging, allowing the story to breathe while occasionally adding subtle touches to coax it forward.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
9 May 2025
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Drug companies in the U.S. face few restraints on what to charge for their products.—
David Armstrong,
ProPublica,
9 May 2025
Noun
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Recalls are typically classified by severity, and while not all involve immediate danger, they are carried out as a precaution to protect public health.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 May 2025
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Class 2 obesity: This ranges from 35-39.9, with a moderate risk of severity.—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
15 May 2025
Noun
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The bankruptcy plan was approved within 24 hours, cutting its debt load by about $450 million, the Observer previously reported.—
Catherine Muccigrosso,
Charlotte Observer,
15 May 2025
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There are cigars to be smoked, a headline-making bankruptcy and more tours.—
Dwight Garner,
New York Times,
13 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Austerity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/austerity. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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