1
as in sacrifice
voluntary restraint in the satisfaction of one's appetites
They moved off the grid to live a life of austerity.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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.
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
3
as in misery
the state of lacking sufficient money or material possessions
His family spent years living in austerity during the recession.
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of austerity
Countries around the world, particularly in Asia, are feeling the fallout, with several resorting to austerity measures.
—
Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
Minimalism without freedom is just austerity; there’s no use having the former without the latter.
—Daisy Jones, Vogue, 26 Mar. 2026
Twenty-six states enacted new and stringent limits on long-standing public health authorities that were already hollowed out from years of budget austerity.
—David Blumenthal, Fortune, 24 Mar. 2026
As part of his austerity plan, Milei downgraded the Human Rights Secretariat to a sub-secretariat, cut its budget and laid off staff.
—Débora Rey, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for austerity
Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
Minimalism without freedom is just austerity; there’s no use having the former without the latter.
—Daisy Jones, Vogue, 26 Mar. 2026
Twenty-six states enacted new and stringent limits on long-standing public health authorities that were already hollowed out from years of budget austerity.
—David Blumenthal, Fortune, 24 Mar. 2026
As part of his austerity plan, Milei downgraded the Human Rights Secretariat to a sub-secretariat, cut its budget and laid off staff.
—Débora Rey, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for austerity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for austerity
Noun
-
Families would leave lights in windows or over doors during battles, such as Verdun, as a sign of hope and remembrance — a tradition that later became a lasting tribute to France’s sacrifice and alliance.—
David Caraccio
April 4,
Sacbee.com,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Still, Roy contends that the two days a month is reasonable given the sacrifices lawyers make to work for the government.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Apr. 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
-
In that case, misery turned into something less miserable (at least until the start of the playoffs).—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Two decades of misery In truth, Italy started the game on top, scoring in the 15th minute through Fiorentina forward Moise Kean to set up what should have been a smooth, routine win.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
These early routines introduced him to the discipline and rhythms of business.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Oftentimes, it is seen as some sort of precious art form, maybe something in the realm of ballet that requires real discipline.—
Emma Forgione,
Vulture,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
Hamilton says severe sleep deprivation can be comparable to driving under the influence, affecting your accuracy and reaction time.—
Wakisha Bailey,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Such terrible deprivations the newcomers to our land must endure while guzzling nips, smoking weed and driving the wrong way on our interstate highways.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Hegseth came out of his own service, in Iraq and Afghanistan, with the seeming conviction that what had stood in the way of a fuller victory in those wars had been the restraints supposedly placed on how soldiers could kill.—
Benjamin Wallace-Wells,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
In a culture that rewards fast takes, that kind of restraint is rare.—
Sonia Singh,
Rolling Stone,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Orkin's bed bug treatment methods may include targeted applications, heat treatments or a combination of strategies, depending on the severity.—
Alora Bopray,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The department said the driver's seat was the only part of the car that remained intact, but despite the severity of the crash, the driver suffered only minor injuries.—
Christopher Harris,
CBS News,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Austerity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/austerity. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
