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
Franco is the heir apparent to the Michael Haneke world of unsettled, austere psychological pain against geopolitical backdrops onscreen, and Chastain is more game than ever to play along with his hopeless world.
—
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 15 Feb. 2025
This includes an unexpected romance between Da-Eun and rival Chozen after a crazy night in Barcelona, unlocking a softer and more feminine side to the austere Da-Eun.
—Laura Sirikul, NBC News, 12 Feb. 2025
Bryant Wehmeyer, from the farming town of Jamaica, Iowa, described his childhood as austere and unforgiving.
—Dexter Filkins, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
The structure is neat and austere; the emotion is not.
—Jon Pareles, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for austere
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 15 Feb. 2025
This includes an unexpected romance between Da-Eun and rival Chozen after a crazy night in Barcelona, unlocking a softer and more feminine side to the austere Da-Eun.
—Laura Sirikul, NBC News, 12 Feb. 2025
Bryant Wehmeyer, from the farming town of Jamaica, Iowa, described his childhood as austere and unforgiving.
—Dexter Filkins, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
The structure is neat and austere; the emotion is not.
—Jon Pareles, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for austere
Recent Examples of Synonyms for austere
Adjective
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Four years on—late in 2024 but well in advance of the Type 00’s public debut in Miami—Robb Report was invited to Gaydon to see the result under conditions of the strictest secrecy.—
Ben Oliver,
Robb Report,
1 Mar. 2025
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While seafood imports must meet strict federal safety regulations, this catfish recall underscores the challenges of monitoring international food supply chains.—
Stephanie Gravalese,
Forbes,
1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The gruff but beloved Hackman was among the most accomplished actors of his generation, appearing as villains, heroes and antiheroes in dozens of dramas, comedies and action films from the 1960s until his retirement in the early 2000s.—
Susan Montoya Bryan,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2025
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Ford’s actually relatively locked-in as the gruff but supportive Colonel Graff training the impressionable Ender (Asa Butterfield), who has to save the universe as all lads in these types of films tend to do.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Unlike Western cleansers, which often rely on harsh surfactants or astringent ingredients, Korean ones maintain the skin’s moisture barrier and natural pH balance, says Cho.—
Denise Primbet,
Glamour,
28 Feb. 2025
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Her lyric vocal writing contends with harsh reality, but her style is never far from profound rapture.—
Mark Swed,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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In recent months, Israel has brightened a grim geopolitical landscape by battering Iran and its proxies.—
HAL BRANDS,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Feb. 2025
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The grim anniversary comes with Ukraine facing great uncertainty about its future after President Donald Trump pivoted toward Russia and US officials insisted that Europe can no longer rely on Washington for its defense.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Prioritizing fitness amid a busy travel schedule, the former Radio City Rockette and The Talk host says her outlook is simple.—
Meredith Lepore,
Travel + Leisure,
1 Mar. 2025
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But there's a simple—and so easy-to-remember—method that will make the packing process easy every time: the 5-4-3-2-1 method.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Southern Living,
1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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How to Bet Timberwolves vs. Lakers Following up a game like Tuesday's would be tough for the Wolves under any circumstances, but with Edwards battling a calf injury and DiVincenzo potentially sidelined, beating the Lakers in L.A. will be that much more difficult.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
27 Feb. 2025
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This all adds up to a tough investment outlook for any business looking at Ukraine’s mineral supply.—
Energy Innovation: Policy and Technology,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Once again, her stern words earned tepid applause from a crowd that honestly just wanted to go two hours without thinking about humanity's downward trajectory into civil, moral, and environmental oblivion.—
Kristen Baldwin,
EW.com,
24 Feb. 2025
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But Sunday’s election could mark its sternest test yet.—
Mark Sappenfield,
The Christian Science Monitor,
20 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The sky was a pretty pink and purple, a stark contrast to the death chamber's florescent lights, gray firing squad chair and block walls that reminded me of a 1970s doctor's office.—
Jeffrey Collins,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2025
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Given Meta’s size and public profile, the spotlight on the company is unique, but its experience is a stark lesson for companies repositioning themselves for a new political moment.—
Phil Singer,
Forbes,
7 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Austere.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/austere. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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