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
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
Recent budget cuts at the National Institutes of Health and the political wave toward austerity in using public monies for research make Welsh nervous.
—Courtney Crowder, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
Ward expense accounts have been a touchy area for mayoral administrations to encroach on in times of austerity.
—Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
The oil shocks of the 1970s forced traumatic austerity on Americans.
—Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for austerity
Justin Davidson, Curbed, 14 Apr. 2026
Recent budget cuts at the National Institutes of Health and the political wave toward austerity in using public monies for research make Welsh nervous.
—Courtney Crowder, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
Ward expense accounts have been a touchy area for mayoral administrations to encroach on in times of austerity.
—Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
The oil shocks of the 1970s forced traumatic austerity on Americans.
—Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for austerity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for austerity
Noun
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Up until now, the convenience of a UST projector meant having to make some image quality sacrifices.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
24 Apr. 2026
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With a heavy emphasis on what works psychologically, seminars, books and college classes are trying to change how people approach climate change, by talking more about community and happiness than sacrifice.—
Seth Borenstein,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 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 misery wrought by insurgents in largely ungoverned spaces will push people to flee.—
Ulf Laessing,
semafor.com,
30 Apr. 2026
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But complications can extend the misery well beyond the visible rash.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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
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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
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Outside of those classes, the most difficult thing about the experience is the sleep deprivation.—
Heather Greenwood Davis,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Apr. 2026
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Diets and food deprivation did not.—
Ralphie Aversa,
USA Today,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
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With the world facing profound suffering and division, moral voices calling for peace, restraint and sanctity of human life deserve to be protected and amplified, not condemned.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
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Initially, the couple was arrested on charges of first-degree manslaughter, first-degree unlawful restraint, intentional cruelty to persons, risk of injury to a minor and conspiracy to commit risk of injury to a minor.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Despite the severity of the South Carolina outbreak, Edwards considers the public health response a success.—
Tanya Lewis,
Scientific American,
29 Apr. 2026
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The actual severity of any shortcomings at OpenAI and how far any weaknesses could spread remain open questions, Yardeni said.—
Rob Wile,
NBC news,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Austerity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/austerity. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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