Austere

Practice This Word

Severely strict in living or thinking; plain, spare, and without luxury; stern.

adjective

Austere

Severely strict in living or thinking; plain, spare, and without luxury; stern.

adjective

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Imagine This

Imagine a monastery room: cold stone walls, a single bed, a wooden bowl, and a strict daily routine with no decorations or indulgences.

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Sounds Like

aw-steer

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Looks Like

Looks like the related word austerity; visually, it communicates a sharp, plain, unadorned quality.

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Remember This

Austere is related to austerity; it can describe people, places, or things that are bare, stern, or without luxury.

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Other Forms

austeritynoun

austereadjective

austerelyadverb

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Connect With

stern, severe, grim, ascetic, frugal, minimal

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Note

Austere emphasizes sternness or bare simplicity. It can describe environments (rooms, budgets, lifestyles) or demeanor in formal contexts. Do not confuse with words meaning charmingly simple or decorative.

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Study Deeper

Examples

The professor's austere standards required students to submit flawless, on-time papers.
The museum displayed an austere collection: a few priceless pieces in a stark, undecorated room.

Synonyms

sternseveregrimspartanunadorned

Antonyms

luxuriouslavishornate

Etymology

From Latin austerus meaning harsh or severe; via Old French austere into Middle English.

Mnemonic

Mnemonic: Austere sounds like 'aw, steer.' Imagine a calm, plain room and a farm steer refusing any luxuries—its stern, bare nature reminds you that austere means strict and plain.