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 With so many arrests, the courts will face a challenge in processing all the charges at a time when the criminal justice system is overstretched, following years of austerity and the COVID-19 pandemic. —

Pan Pylas, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 Aug. 2024 Its effectiveness has been further diminished by the Conservative government’s program of austerity. —

Heidi Blake, The New Yorker, 29 July 2024 The 83,000-word document, based on witness statements including from former health secretaries Matt Hancock and Jeremy Hunt, also highlighted the brutal effect of austerity. —

Harriet Marsden, The Week Uk, theweek, 19 July 2024 While these pledges have proved popular, they have been made at a time when France could be heading for a period of austerity. —

Christian Edwards, CNN, 7 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for austerity

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'austerity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.