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 most recent Republican slashing of arts funding is only a dramatic example of an austerity process that’s been underway for decades.
—
Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2025
There is ample evidence to suggest that economic austerity policies imposed during 14 years of Conservative Party rule are at least partly to blame, according to Max Warner, a senior research economist at the Institute for Fiscal Studies, a London research group.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 5 Oct. 2025
But his radical austerity program has been painful, with no economic revival in sight and Argentines are losing patience.
—Isabel Debre, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2025
That move was part of a broader effort to eliminate austerity measures initially suggested to close a $402 million revenue gap.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for austerity
Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2025
There is ample evidence to suggest that economic austerity policies imposed during 14 years of Conservative Party rule are at least partly to blame, according to Max Warner, a senior research economist at the Institute for Fiscal Studies, a London research group.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 5 Oct. 2025
But his radical austerity program has been painful, with no economic revival in sight and Argentines are losing patience.
—Isabel Debre, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2025
That move was part of a broader effort to eliminate austerity measures initially suggested to close a $402 million revenue gap.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for austerity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for austerity
Noun
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They were forced to offer their daughter as a sacrifice to Cetus to keep their entire kingdom from being ravaged by the sea monster.—
Mike Lynch,
Twin Cities,
19 Oct. 2025
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Turning her yard into a parking lot for six or seven Saturdays a year means Giordani has to make sacrifices.—
Austin Meek,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
While most of us on the plane were in this same unexpected predicament, a passenger nearby didn't seem to be sharing in our misery thanks to a compact gadget propped up their phone to the perfect viewing height.—
Anita Katee,
Travel + Leisure,
18 Oct. 2025
-
His matchup against Minnesota could add to the misery.—
Brad Evans,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
How has intersecting those two disciplines (acting and music) been like when creating the album’s concept?—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Beyond Film serves as a community hub for attendees, offering artist discussions, conversations with filmmakers and experts from various disciplines, and opportunities for audience engagement.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
21 Oct. 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
-
Not every such deprivation becomes a literal matter of life and death as in the play, but making use of such scenarios enables Shakespeare to highlight more effectively the danger of arbitrary action.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Why Sleep Matters So Much for Teens Chronic sleep deprivation can impact anyone, including teens, in various ways.—
Kris Ann Valdez,
Parents,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The ship brings history and perhaps some English restraint to the world’s cruise capital.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
18 Oct. 2025
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D’Angelo understood the ways in which restraint can be infinitely more haunting—and more alluring—than aggression.—
Amanda Petrusich,
New Yorker,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The regulator emphasized the severity of the breach, noting that trust is fundamental to the relationship between broadcasters and their audiences, particularly for public service broadcasters like the BBC.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
17 Oct. 2025
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Despite the apparent severity of the injury, Rush is still scheduled to compete in a match in Mexico tonight, October 16.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Austerity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/austerity. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
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