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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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
For generations, Californians believed that mountains would save them, that wildfires would not burn over the Sierra Nevada’s austere granite peaks.
—
Calmatters, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2025
Efforts to cram the square pegs of the GOP's austere, oligarchic economic agenda into the round holes of an unraveling economy led by an unpopular, unstable autocrat are going to consume most of the next several months even in a best-case scenario for the party.
—Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025
For the stern lawyer and detective looks, Diaz created a tight, slick, and equally austere updo.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 13 Mar. 2025
Departing from this austere nativism, Zibakalam offered instead a deep, comparative study of European and Iranian history, dating back to medieval times.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for austere
Calmatters, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2025
Efforts to cram the square pegs of the GOP's austere, oligarchic economic agenda into the round holes of an unraveling economy led by an unpopular, unstable autocrat are going to consume most of the next several months even in a best-case scenario for the party.
—Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025
For the stern lawyer and detective looks, Diaz created a tight, slick, and equally austere updo.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 13 Mar. 2025
Departing from this austere nativism, Zibakalam offered instead a deep, comparative study of European and Iranian history, dating back to medieval times.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for austere
Recent Examples of Synonyms for austere
Adjective
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Some venues, such as London's fabric, encourage a phone-free environment through guidance rather than strict enforcement.—
John W. Dean,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Apr. 2025
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First, monitor how Asian hubs respond to the surprising success of Singapore’s stricter regime - will Hong Kong double down on flexibility or pivot toward stability?—
Francois Botha,
Forbes.com,
6 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Simultaneously punched out, yet refusing to stay down for the count, a gruff Smith does his actorly best to understand, then diss, his public’s view of the slap heard round the world.—
A.D. Amorosi,
Variety,
28 Mar. 2025
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In a gruff voice, Fino speculated about what besides the mushroom might have caused the disease.—
Shayla Love,
The Atlantic,
23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Donald Trump defended his harsh new tariffs on Saturday Night Live this week — and maybe took a swipe at last week’s musical guest, too.—
Dave Nemetz,
TVLine,
5 Apr. 2025
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When the father tried to explain himself, the women criticized him for being too harsh.—
Ashley Vega,
People.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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While in jail, Dean bonds with Zoro, a grim and mysterious teenage prisoner serving time for murder.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
3 Apr. 2025
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Americans hold more favorable views of Republicans than Democrats, even as favorability remains grim across the board, according to the latest Economist/YouGov poll.—
Sarah Fortinsky,
The Hill,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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That simplicity feels so apt for this show, There's enough here: The production is simple and sweet, while Jonas and Warren exude a certain magnetism.—
Shania Russell,
EW.com,
7 Apr. 2025
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Kit kept things simple with a traditional dark blue suit, pairing the look with a white shirt and polkadot bowtie and his usual glasses.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
People.com,
6 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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What tough lessons does Cole learn through the process of getting involved with a patient this season?—
Max Gao,
Variety,
4 Apr. 2025
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That’s likely a tough pill to swallow for Gomez, who typically launches her albums at No. 1.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Fifteen games have passed since, cementing Deepdale as one of the sternest away trips in the English Football League.—
Sam Tighe,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
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Of course this new yacht features the wide open stern and three-level beach club Bagliettos are known for.—
Bill Springer,
Forbes.com,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The numbers will likely be in stark contrast to US rival Tesla Inc., which only makes EVs and whose first-quarter sales may be as low as 340,000, according to some analyst estimates, or possibly around the 377,000 mark.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
1 Apr. 2025
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The atmosphere was mostly optimistic throughout Monday — a stark contrast from last season at the Oakland Coliseum, when fans regularly protested and had explicit chants for A’s owner John Fisher.—
Mathew Miranda,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Austere.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/austere. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
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