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
Since ending 14 years of Conservative rule roiled by austerity and the Covid-19 pandemic, Labour has struggled to ease the cost of living and jump-start a sluggish economy against the tough economic backdrop of war in Ukraine and, more recently, Iran.
—
CBS News, 9 May 2026
Since ending 14 years of Conservative rule roiled by austerity and the COVID-19 pandemic, Labour has struggled to ease the cost of living and jump-start a sluggish economy against the tough economic backdrop of war in Ukraine and, more recently, Iran.
—ABC News, 9 May 2026
The government has announced austerity measures to control public spending and ensure the continuity of essential services amid the risk of disruptions in oil supply.
—Anabella González, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
Even simpler was the milky white porcelain that eventually became the primary production of the Joseon’s official kilns, its austerity felt to be more in keeping with the virtues of Confucianism.
—Lori Waxman, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for austerity
CBS News, 9 May 2026
Since ending 14 years of Conservative rule roiled by austerity and the COVID-19 pandemic, Labour has struggled to ease the cost of living and jump-start a sluggish economy against the tough economic backdrop of war in Ukraine and, more recently, Iran.
—ABC News, 9 May 2026
The government has announced austerity measures to control public spending and ensure the continuity of essential services amid the risk of disruptions in oil supply.
—Anabella González, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
Even simpler was the milky white porcelain that eventually became the primary production of the Joseon’s official kilns, its austerity felt to be more in keeping with the virtues of Confucianism.
—Lori Waxman, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for austerity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for austerity
Noun
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Fashion was worth the sacrifice.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
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Veterans of the Civil Rights Movement are alarmed by the speed of the rollbacks, noting that protections won through generations of sacrifice have been weakened in little more than a decade.—
Kim Chandler,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2026
Noun
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But then Popper smiled and the arrival of opening day momentarily mellowed his gruffness.—
Andrew Carter,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
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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 parallels between Ines’ dilemma and that of a nation being asked to lick its wounds in silence — in the name of moving on from past miseries — are present but elusive.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
14 May 2026
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There are fun bad teams, or teams that at least make a unique bonding experience out of their specific type of misery.—
Hanif Abdurraqib,
New Yorker,
12 May 2026
Noun
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What begins as inspiration could become something tangible when desire and discipline move together.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 May 2026
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Tang positioned One/Size’s commercial advantage as one of category discipline rather than breadth.—
Ritu Upadhyay,
Footwear News,
12 May 2026
Noun
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Within pashmina throws and Ladakh yak-wool woven rugs, sold in the shop, soften the near-monastic asceticism of the décor and effects of the crepuscular lighting.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
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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
Noun
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By studying how tissues can survive without oxygen, researchers can potentially develop therapeutics to treat conditions of oxygen deprivation, such as strokes.—
Yasemin Saplakoglu,
Quanta Magazine,
13 May 2026
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The shift comes as Americans report record levels of stress and sleep deprivation, and as the global sleep economy balloons into a multibillion-dollar industry.—
Hanna Wickes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 May 2026
Noun
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Told with exacting restraint yet as layered as the lacquer on an ebony Biedermeier console, this forms a loose triptych with Pawlikowski’s last two features, Ida and Cold War, both of which were set at least partly behind the Iron Curtain.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
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For the Dior cruise show in Los Angeles, Peter Philips treated glow with the restraint of good lighting.—
Ryma Chikhoune,
Footwear News,
14 May 2026
Noun
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Trinidad and Tobago disputes the spill’s size and severity, saying only 10 barrels spilled on May 1 and were quickly contained.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2026
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Research shows a strong link between HS severity and metabolic factors like obesity and insulin resistance, which contribute to a chronic pro-inflammatory state.—
Lauryn Higgins,
Flow Space,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Austerity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/austerity. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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