austerity

noun

aus·ter·i·ty ȯ-ˈster-ə-tē

-ˈste-rə-,

also -ˈstir-ə-

plural austerities

Synonyms of austerity next

: the quality or state of being austere: such as

: a stern and serious quality

the formal austerity of his manner

: a plain and simple quality

the austerity of the design

: enforced or extreme economy especially on a national scale

lived through years of austerity after the war

fiscal austerity

a series of austerity measures [=measures taken to reduce spending]

: an austere act, manner, or attitude

monastic self-denial and austerities

: an ascetic (see ascetic sense 1) practice

Examples of austerity in a Sentence

the austerity of the design The austerity of their lifestyle was surprising. They lived through years of austerity after the war. the austerities practiced by monks

Recent Examples on the Web

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.

Union has a more obvious narrative drive, but retains some of that sense of momentous austerity. —

Alison Willmore, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2024 Years of deficit spending and a new Republican majority in the House cast a cloud of budget austerity over Congress. —

Kenneth Evans, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2024 Previous run-ups in prices included a 27-month period immediately after World War II, when consumer spending after years of wartime austerity combined with supply shortages as industry began its conversion of output from military hardware to consumer goods. —

Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2024 In recent days, in advance of the Labour Party Conference that kicked off Monday and next month’s release of the first budget of the new Labour government, concerns about new levels of austerity have become widespread. —

Kevin Klowden, Chief Global Strategist At The Milken Institute, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for austerity