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
The austerity gives her plenty of room to writhe, mug, and moan between occasional shots of an inflatable Martian and a tropical-looking Tiffany lamp.
—
Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 14 Jan. 2026
As providers warn of layoffs and a system nearing collapse, the contrast between the agency's austerity measures and the state's multi-billion dollar surplus remains a central point of contention for advocates and legislators alike.
—CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
In an era of austerity when rich studio deals are harder to come by, Sony Pictures is betting big on Chris Bremner, as the studio has signed him to a writing and producing deal on the lot under his new company, Unknown Quantity.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2026
The original Levine Cava budget proposal had austerity measures, including layoffs, fee hikes and service cuts.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for austerity
Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 14 Jan. 2026
As providers warn of layoffs and a system nearing collapse, the contrast between the agency's austerity measures and the state's multi-billion dollar surplus remains a central point of contention for advocates and legislators alike.
—CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
In an era of austerity when rich studio deals are harder to come by, Sony Pictures is betting big on Chris Bremner, as the studio has signed him to a writing and producing deal on the lot under his new company, Unknown Quantity.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2026
The original Levine Cava budget proposal had austerity measures, including layoffs, fee hikes and service cuts.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for austerity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for austerity
Noun
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No one needs to hold power, and no one needs to shoulder all the sacrifice.—
Jelena Kecmanovic,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
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Still, Marvin Alexander said the impact their music has on listeners makes the sacrifices worthwhile.—
Mars Salazar,
Austin American Statesman,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Mackay and Turner are both excellent, two movie stars who seem totally game to be asked to move with real gruffness.—
Sam Bodrojan,
IndieWire,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Embracing misery is one kind of defiance; demanding to be heard is another.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
5 Feb. 2026
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This year, more than usual, a group of Florida lawmakers are clinging to a Biblical-sounding principle — and doing their best to ensure that the wages of sin are, at the very least, misery.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
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This season, Vonn historically won two more downhill races – becoming the oldest World Cup race winner ever – and leads the season World Cup standings in the discipline.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
3 Feb. 2026
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Then Goodell pumped the brakes on a full investigation of the matter and on Tisch possibly facing discipline under the league’s personal conduct policy.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
3 Feb. 2026
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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And the Cuban people, suffering under extreme deprivation, will pay the ultimate price.—
Daniel DePetris,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Feb. 2026
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But smart grocery shopping isn’t about deprivation or perfection.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Maryland’s budget process is designed to promote transparency and fiscal restraint.—
J.B. Jennings,
Baltimore Sun,
5 Feb. 2026
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The verdict signals that prolonged prone restraint during mental health crises is dangerous, potentially changing how juvenile detention centers handle distressed teens.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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This significant reduction in impact speed and severity is a demonstration of the material safety benefit of the Waymo Driver.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
4 Feb. 2026
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The migrant boat capsized and sank due to the severity of the impact, causing all passengers on board to fall into the sea a few miles off the coast of Turkey, the statement said.—
Reuters,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Austerity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/austerity. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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