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 measures, the crushing weight of rising housing costs has forced them to press pause on their plans to have kids.
—
Lizzie Kane, Boston Herald, 19 Sep. 2025
At some point in the near future, a government will likely be compelled to impose unpopular austerity measures and address the deficits in the pension system.
—Jenni Reid, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2025
Advertisement The latest austerity budget–which included a freeze to welfare benefits, healthcare spending cuts, and more—would have also disproportionately hurt working people.
—Cole Stangler, Time, 9 Sep. 2025
The graft and fraud investigations signal that state corruption which helped plunge Greece into a 2009-2018 debt crisis persists, despite reforms and tough austerity under three international bailouts.
—Angeliki Koutantou, Reuters, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for austerity
Lizzie Kane, Boston Herald, 19 Sep. 2025
At some point in the near future, a government will likely be compelled to impose unpopular austerity measures and address the deficits in the pension system.
—Jenni Reid, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2025
Advertisement The latest austerity budget–which included a freeze to welfare benefits, healthcare spending cuts, and more—would have also disproportionately hurt working people.
—Cole Stangler, Time, 9 Sep. 2025
The graft and fraud investigations signal that state corruption which helped plunge Greece into a 2009-2018 debt crisis persists, despite reforms and tough austerity under three international bailouts.
—Angeliki Koutantou, Reuters, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for austerity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for austerity
Noun
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For Chinese authorities, this was a story of national unity, collective sacrifice, and ultimate victory over the virus.—
Yangyang Cheng,
NPR,
4 Oct. 2025
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This was particularly present in the dynamic between Bobby's widow, Athena (Angela Bassett), and Chim (Kenneth Choi), who's alive because of Bobby's sacrifice.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Oct. 2025
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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The ongoing misery in Charlotte prompted a popular Panthers-centric podcast to throw in the towel.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
3 Oct. 2025
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But aid agencies say that Israel’s intensification of the war, particularly around Gaza City, has compounded the misery faced by Palestinians.—
Soph Warnes,
CNN Money,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Advertisement The Manning brothers' presence as executive producers ensured Chad Powers wasn't just a comedy about rebuilding but a football story rooted in preparation and discipline, down to the accuracy of Powell’s shotgun snaps.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
30 Sep. 2025
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The discipline followed the coaches' backing of Reeve and their vocal criticisms of officials.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
30 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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Two years after founding Huffington Post, Huffington collapsed from exhaustion and sleep deprivation.—
Eric Rosenbaum,
CNBC,
30 Sep. 2025
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Sensory deprivation training has become increasingly common over the past decade, particularly when Steph Curry popularized practicing with strobe goggles to disrupt his vision.—
Jared Weiss,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
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On multiple occasions, Johnson has pointed the blame at those who flee police and credited officers with showing restraint in pursuits.—
David Clarey,
jsonline.com,
3 Oct. 2025
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Those charges include four counts each of counterfeiting−delivery/possession of property and knowingly selling counterfeit, nonfunctional or noncompliant supplemental restraint systems.—
Christina Hall,
Freep.com,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Charlie and Pim are loyal employees of Smiling Friends, a mysterious business that exists solely to assist people with their problems, regardless of their severity.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
3 Oct. 2025
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Prosecutors have recommended an 11-year sentence, citing Combs’s lack of remorse and the severity of harm inflicted.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Austerity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/austerity. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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