1
as in strict
given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint
an austere conductor who is as tough on himself as he is on the orchestra
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in gruff
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance
an austere fortress at the top of some formidable cliffs
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3
as in spartan
providing only the essentials and nothing fancy or luxurious
for the private office of the CEO of the large corporation, the room is unexpectedly austere
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of austere
But other developments signal a more austere future.
—
Michelle Mbekeani, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
The yin/yang play of the Riggs—where soft is juxtaposed with hard, pretty with austere, cool with warm—mirrors a city where impulses often waver between heartfelt public service and chilly ambition.
—Laura Dannen Redman, AFAR Media, 14 Apr. 2025
Artists of all kinds have been inspired by the region’s gentle landscapes and austere architecture, and almost every village has a museum commemorating some local luminary or other.
—Rachel Howard, Travel + Leisure, 13 May 2025
School of Love follows the austere lives of the Cistercian Sisters of Saint Mary’s Abbey, Glencairn, in County Waterford, Ireland.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for austere
Michelle Mbekeani, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
The yin/yang play of the Riggs—where soft is juxtaposed with hard, pretty with austere, cool with warm—mirrors a city where impulses often waver between heartfelt public service and chilly ambition.
—Laura Dannen Redman, AFAR Media, 14 Apr. 2025
Artists of all kinds have been inspired by the region’s gentle landscapes and austere architecture, and almost every village has a museum commemorating some local luminary or other.
—Rachel Howard, Travel + Leisure, 13 May 2025
School of Love follows the austere lives of the Cistercian Sisters of Saint Mary’s Abbey, Glencairn, in County Waterford, Ireland.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for austere
Recent Examples of Synonyms for austere
Adjective
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Under the measure's broad scope and strict distance limits, few areas in Ohio would remain open to such purchases.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 May 2025
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Revolutionary fervor and strict moral codes reshaped film, censoring depictions of gender, modern lifestyles, and social realities.—
Ali Farahmand,
IndieWire,
23 May 2025
Adjective
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Peter Capaldi - Twelfth Doctor From 2014-2017, a gruff and action-ready Peter Capaldi shredded an electric guitar through the TARDIS.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
29 May 2025
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Over a four-decade career that began with a role on Pee-wee’s Playhouse, Lyonne has become known for portraying characters that are gruff but likable, hard-nosed but sympathetic.—
Air Mail,
Air Mail,
17 May 2025
Adjective
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In fact, all forms of Persian rap — from street rap and gangsta to philosophical and social hip-hop — were used in the service of protest, with many works accompanied by heavy beats, dark atmospheres, and harsh narrative styles.—
Ali Farahmand,
IndieWire,
23 May 2025
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Padilla had harsh comments for the president and the GOP in a statement Thursday after the House vote.—
David Lightman,
Sacbee.com,
23 May 2025
Adjective
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The headlines may be grim, but history is generous to those who stay invested.—
John Buckingham,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2025
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His face is grim, lacking the exuberance and devil-may-care attitude visible in earlier paintings.—
Eli Wizevich,
Smithsonian Magazine,
20 May 2025
Adjective
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Trevon Williams, who did not escape from the New Orleans jail, was charged with 10 counts of being a principal to simple escape, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill announced on May 23.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
25 May 2025
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As artificial intelligence models grow increasingly sophisticated, their capabilities extend far beyond simple task execution.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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Buy Now: Flashlight on Bookshop | Amazon | Barnes & Noble Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil, V. E. Schwab (June 10) V. E. Schwab’s sapphic vampire romance begins in 16th century Spain with Maria, a tough young bride, looking to escape her wealthy husband.—
Shannon Carlin,
Time,
22 May 2025
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Dapple Baby takes this task very seriously, offering a fragrance-free formula that’s tough on stains yet gentle on newborn skin.—
Pamela Brill,
Parents,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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And Hannah Waddingham gives a good, stern space-lady as the voice of the Galactic Grand Councilwoman.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
20 May 2025
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In Kurosawa’s version, the chauffeur was an exceedingly meek man who got down on the floor to beg his stern shoe-manufacturer boss, played by the great Toshiro Mifune, to save his son.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
19 May 2025
Adjective
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There was a stark contract between Haliburton's play in Games 4 and 5.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 May 2025
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Another report in leading French newspaper L’Equipe back in August laid bare the stark drop-off that awaited Ligue 1 clubs even with the DAZN deal in place.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
31 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Austere.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/austere. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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