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
Critics, however, argued that the focus on local control was a fig leaf for austerity and dismantling the welfare state.
—
National Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
That reflected the post-Cold War 'peace dividend', post-financial crisis austerity, and the end of the British presence in Iraq and Afghanistan.
—Ian King, CNBC, 22 Apr. 2026
Every element had been carefully considered, Tabitha noted, the suave austerity of the Wassily chairs orbited by antique rugs and estate-sale paintings.
—Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026
What these projects have in common is a starchy austerity, the sense that being in the presence of the dead is serious business.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for austerity
National Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
That reflected the post-Cold War 'peace dividend', post-financial crisis austerity, and the end of the British presence in Iraq and Afghanistan.
—Ian King, CNBC, 22 Apr. 2026
Every element had been carefully considered, Tabitha noted, the suave austerity of the Wassily chairs orbited by antique rugs and estate-sale paintings.
—Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026
What these projects have in common is a starchy austerity, the sense that being in the presence of the dead is serious business.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for austerity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for austerity
Noun
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The United States is now witnessing the unraveling of nearly a century of organizing, civil disobedience and personal sacrifice by ordinary people who helped build Black political power to heights unseen since Reconstruction.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 May 2026
-
Twelve Marylanders were honored Friday for giving the ultimate sacrifice to protect our communities in their time of need.—
Ashley Paul,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
But then Popper smiled and the arrival of opening day momentarily mellowed his gruffness.—
Andrew Carter,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
-
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
-
Riley has spent the majority of the past two decades attempting to distance himself from his book-selling mantra of championship or misery.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
4 May 2026
-
The misery wrought by insurgents in largely ungoverned spaces will push people to flee.—
Ulf Laessing,
semafor.com,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The local school board would decide whether cell phones could be used during after-school activities, and the districts would set their own policies on issues such as discipline for violating the policy, lawmakers said.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Both focus on human achievement, discipline and expression.—
Taylor Haught,
Kansas City Star,
28 Apr. 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
-
Loyal’s drug is designed to trigger some of the same effects, without a dog having to face any of the deprivations experienced by GLP-1 users or the Labradors in the Purina study.—
Ross Andersen,
The Atlantic,
2 May 2026
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Preclinical research shows long-term estrogen deprivation epigenetically silences BDNF in the hippocampus, blunting the brain’s response to exercise over time.—
Torie Bosch,
STAT,
2 May 2026
Noun
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The deputies had differing opinions on whether Adair had become compliant during the restraint.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
7 May 2026
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On their third album, Cost of Living Adjustment, Cola have embraced, if not maximalism, then at least letting go of restraint.—
David Glickman,
Pitchfork,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
Last July, Wolfson found Barahona competent, ruling that Barahona was capable of aiding his defense attorneys and understands the severity of the penalties should he be found guilty.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
6 May 2026
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After suffering a left hamstring injury earlier this season, Doncic said the latest Grade 2 strain to the same area is unlike any he’s experienced because of its severity.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Austerity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/austerity. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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