austere

[ aw-steer ]

adjective

1. severe in manner or appearance; uncompromising; strict; forbidding:

   an austere teacher.

2. rigorously self-disciplined and severely moral; ascetic; abstinent:

   the austere quality of life in the convent.

3. grave; sober; solemn; serious:

   an austere manner.

4. without excess, luxury, or ease; simple; limited; severe:

   an austere life.

   Antonyms: sybaritic, lush, comfortable, luxurious

5. severely simple; without ornament:

   austere writing.

6. rough to the taste; sour or harsh in flavor.

austere

/ ɒˈstɪə /

adjective

1. stern or severe in attitude or manner

   an austere schoolmaster

2. grave, sober, or serious

   an austere expression

3. self-disciplined, abstemious, or ascetic

   an austere life

4. severely simple or plain

   an austere design

Derived Forms

• ausˈtereness, noun
• ausˈterely, adverb

Other Words From

• aus·terely adverb
• aus·tereness noun
• unaus·tere adjective
• unaus·terely adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of austere¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin austērus, from Greek austērós “harsh, rough, bitter”

Word History and Origins

Origin of austere¹

C14: from Old French austère, from Latin austērus sour, from Greek austēros astringent; related to Greek hauein to dry

Synonym Study

Austere, bleak, spartan, stark all suggest lack of ornament or adornment and of a feeling of comfort or warmth. Austere usually implies a purposeful avoidance of luxury or ease: simple, stripped-down, austere surroundings. Bleak adds a sense of forbidding coldness, hopelessness, depression: a bleak, dreary, windswept plain. Spartan, somewhat more forceful than austere, implies stern discipline and rigorous, even harsh, avoidance of all that is not strictly functional: a life of Spartan simplicity. Stark shares with bleak a sense of grimness and desolation: the stark cliff face.

Example Sentences

It is a method tested “in the most austere, complex environments in which people are shooting at us and people are dying,” he says.

From Los Angeles Times

A small dot down in the lower right-hand corner visually transforms the austere composition into an essay on the perceptual dynamics of deep space, as if we — like that little dot — are floating untethered.

From Los Angeles Times

What we have heard so far about the Budget sounds rather austere, but the chancellor is defining austerity as real-terms cuts in government departments.

From BBC

The video, an austere affair with the band lip-syncing in front of a white background, became ubiquitous; “1984” became the first Van Halen record to reach No. 1 on Billboard’s album chart.

From Los Angeles Times

Throughout that period it made policymaking more austere and left the country without the resources to combat real economic needs such as poverty while increasing inequality.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• exacting
• forbidding
• formal
• rigid
• sober
• somber
• stringent

More About Austere

What does austere mean?

Austere most commonly means extremely stern or strict or without any frills or luxuries.

Things that are described as austere are serious, harsh, or severely simple.

The word is especially used to describe a state of extreme self-discipline or minimalistic living, such as the austere conditions in a monastery. Think of a monk who lives in a bedroom with only a metal cot and eats plain rice every day—that’s an austere lifestyle.

The noun form of austere is austerity—the state of being austere.

Example: You can’t expect people to cope with such austere conditions—they need more than the bare necessities. 

Where does austere come from?

The first records of the word austere come from around the late 1300s. It comes from the Greek austērós, meaning “harsh, rough, bitter.”

Austere is often applied to harsh, rough, and severely simple conditions. Sometimes, people seek out austere conditions on purpose. Such conditions in a monastery are typically intended to help those who live there focus on the spiritual aspect of life without being distracted by anything that’s considered frivolous.

In many cases, though, austerity is not by choice. People forced to live in austere conditions must get along without any luxuries and often without some things that other people considered necessities. Austerity measures implemented by governments often involve cutting everything from the budget that’s not absolutely essential, leaving citizens to live in extremely austere conditions.

A person who’s described as austere is extremely serious and perhaps stern—think of the expressions on the farmers depicted in the painting American Gothic. A style of art, such as architecture, might be described as austere if it’s extremely simple, with no ornamentation.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to austere?

• austerity (noun)
• austerely (adverb)
• austereness (noun)
• unaustere (adjective)
• unausterely (adverb)

What are some synonyms for austere?

• severe
• stern
• strict
• sober
• solemn
• serious
• grave
• harsh

What are some words that often get used in discussing austere?

 

• conditions
• personality
• economy
• measures
• minimalist
• self-discipline
• ascetic
• practices
• abstinence

How is austere used in real life?

The word austere can be used in all kinds of contexts. It’s often used to describe a minimalistic lifestyle or a stern person’s personality.

I live an extremely austere life lol. In that I actually do practice what I preach. Less clutter, more time, etc.

It's difficult on a number of levels but doable & spiritually/psychologically rewarding.

— Erik (@erikmullen08) May 27, 2019

Those that often call for austere conditions in prisons are those who do not have family or friends in one, or simply don't have a clue

— Steve Robertson (@HMPGovernor) February 22, 2017

I love what an about-face this is from Astral Weeks. They’re both totally Van Morrison records, but Astral Weeks is so austere and considered, and Moondance feels so loose and chilled out

— AK Lingus In Cartoon Form (@aklingus) October 1, 2018

 

 

Try using austere!

Which of the following words is MOST likely to be associated with something considered austere?

A. luxury
B. convenience
C. abundance
D. simplicity