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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for austerity
Noun
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Most front offices don’t favor such things as sacrifices or steals.—
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Child care providers frequently make personal sacrifices to run their businesses, often putting in long days, enlisting family members to work unpaid or forgoing adequate pay and benefits, such as time off for themselves.—
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.—
Noun
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Others though, like benzodiazepines, have wildly missed the mark, causing decades of unintended consequences and human misery.—
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Instead of getting used to the smells, her misery intensified with each passing day.—
Noun
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Eberflus’ best intentions and vision for winning football disintegrated due in part to his team’s lack of discipline and the coaching staff’s inability to steer out of even the smallest skids.—
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However, the Chinese researchers argue that those systems typically focus on fewer disciplines and often require manual adjustments when expanded.—
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.—
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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.—
Noun
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Research shows that sleep deprivation causes hormonal changes that contribute to obesity.—
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Guests will have the chance to explore gorgeous beaches, canyons and cliffs outside, then relax by Mailena’s pool or in the Wellness and Longevity Center, featuring saunas, sensory deprivation tanks and biohacking suites.—
Noun
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But restraint does not mean passivity.—
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The American Conservative was founded on foreign policy restraint, trade realism, and migration sanity in 2002.—
Noun
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Those who break the rules are hit with fines depending on the severity of the infraction.—
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So consider the size and severity of scratches and markings, as well as the item's price.—
Cite this Entry
“Austerity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/austerity. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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