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
Pérez instituted austerity measures that proved immensely unpopular — and ultimately led to the rise of Hugo Chávez.
—
David Goldman, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026
This, together with the fragmented working class and weak community roots of Lindsay’s liberalism, left the city unable to fight the wave of neoliberal austerity measures that faced the city.
—Daniel Wortel-London, Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2026
Modern Latin American history is littered with austerity measures and pro-investment plans that failed because of social unrest or a lack of political support.
—Brian Winter, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
The same humorous austerity marked her performances.
—News Desk, Artforum, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for austerity
David Goldman, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026
This, together with the fragmented working class and weak community roots of Lindsay’s liberalism, left the city unable to fight the wave of neoliberal austerity measures that faced the city.
—Daniel Wortel-London, Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2026
Modern Latin American history is littered with austerity measures and pro-investment plans that failed because of social unrest or a lack of political support.
—Brian Winter, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
The same humorous austerity marked her performances.
—News Desk, Artforum, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for austerity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for austerity
Noun
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The sacrifice relieves an economic burden and provides August with an education and, eventually, a small business empire.—
Colton Valentine,
New Yorker,
24 Jan. 2026
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Written and directed by Stephanie Ahn, Bedford Park tackles topics like sacrifice and one’s cultural identity.—
Nicole Fell,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Jan. 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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Many parents remember the misery of remote learning during the dark days of COVID-19 school shutdowns.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Jan. 2026
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Everything else is pretty much abject misery, which leaves me clinging to pure nostalgia for brief moments of joy.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
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For Hochul, the discipline is finding ways to do more with less, the momentum is buying into voter demands for affordability, and the ambition is to get reelected.—
Marcia Kramer,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
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The challenge—and opportunity—for investors is to distinguish not just which strategies are compelling, but which managers have the discipline and edge to execute them.—
Carrie McCabe,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 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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Aarhus University in Denmark has found that birds solve the problem of oxygen deprivation by switching their eyes to anaerobic power.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Jan. 2026
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But new research suggests that the deprivation of this essential molecule was not an innocuous evolutionary shift but actually a clever defense against parasitic infections.—
Jay Kakade
January 19,
New Atlas,
19 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Officers exercise restraint despite facing threats and attacks, according to federal officials.—
Isabel Rosales,
CNN Money,
22 Jan. 2026
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That restraint could be radical.—
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Several people were treated for injuries of varying severity, including the train driver, who died after being assisted by the first responders.—
Pau Mosquera,
CNN Money,
21 Jan. 2026
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Kp is an index used to indicate the severity of the global magnetic disturbances in near-Earth space, NOAA said.—
Jalen Williams,
Freep.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Austerity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/austerity. Accessed 27 Jan. 2026.
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