Austere
adjective
Simple or plain, not flashy or fancy.
His home furnishings are austere, mostly wooden and simple.
Often appears as...
- austere lifestyle
- austere decor
adjective
Strict, stern, or harsh in manner.
The austere teacher had no patience for tardiness.
Often appears as...
- austere stare
- austere manners
Usage tips
Formal
adjective
Having a serious and respected quality.
He conveys an austere sense of dignity and majesty.
Often appears as...
- austere dignity
- austere presence
adjective
Simple or plain, not flashy or fancy.
His home furnishings are austere, mostly wooden and simple.
Often appears as...
- austere lifestyle
- austere decor
adjective
Strict, stern, or harsh in manner.
The austere teacher had no patience for tardiness.
Often appears as...
- austere stare
- austere manners
Usage tips
Formal
adjective
Having a serious and respected quality.
He conveys an austere sense of dignity and majesty.
Often appears as...
- austere dignity
- austere presence
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Minimalist Style
Refers to things that are intentionally kept simple to create a clean, uncluttered look.
The room had an austere design with minimal decorations.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Cozy
An austere setting may feel less comfortable or inviting, focusing on functionality over warmth.
The waiting room's austere furniture made it feel unwelcoming.
Pro Tip 3/3Economic Hardship
Sometimes indicates reduced spending, often during times of budget cuts or financial restraint.
The company's austere budget meant no more free lunches.
Pro Tip 1/3Minimalist Style
Refers to things that are intentionally kept simple to create a clean, uncluttered look.
The room had an austere design with minimal decorations.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Cozy
An austere setting may feel less comfortable or inviting, focusing on functionality over warmth.
The waiting room's austere furniture made it feel unwelcoming.
Pro Tip 3/3Economic Hardship
Sometimes indicates reduced spending, often during times of budget cuts or financial restraint.
The company's austere budget meant no more free lunches.
Pro Tip 1/3Minimalist Style
Refers to things that are intentionally kept simple to create a clean, uncluttered look.
The room had an austere design with minimal decorations.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Cozy
An austere setting may feel less comfortable or inviting, focusing on functionality over warmth.
The waiting room's austere furniture made it feel unwelcoming.
Pro Tip 3/3Economic Hardship
Sometimes indicates reduced spending, often during times of budget cuts or financial restraint.
The company's austere budget meant no more free lunches.
Never forget "Austere"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
Why the universe seems...
What we say -- and I include the most austerely mechanistic among us, which is probably me -- what we say is, "Vile monster, prison is too good for you." Or worse, we seek revenge, in all probability thereby triggering the next phase in an escalating cycle of counter-revenge, which we see, of course, all over the world today.
Video examples
Kids need structure -...
talking to this group of students and take a look at them they were around me in three directions you'll notice that almost all of them are minority you'll notice that the building is rather austere it's an old New York school building nothing fancy still have old
Video examples
Inside the Doomsday...
protect against EMP the compartment furthest forward on the main deck is the senior executive suite it's the president's doomsday headquarters very small and rather austere accommodations small compartment
Video examples
Why the universe seems...
What we say -- and I include the most austerely mechanistic among us, which is probably me -- what we say is, "Vile monster, prison is too good for you." Or worse, we seek revenge, in all probability thereby triggering the next phase in an escalating cycle of counter-revenge, which we see, of course, all over the world today.
Video examples
Kids need structure -...
talking to this group of students and take a look at them they were around me in three directions you'll notice that almost all of them are minority you'll notice that the building is rather austere it's an old New York school building nothing fancy still have old
Video examples
Inside the Doomsday...
protect against EMP the compartment furthest forward on the main deck is the senior executive suite it's the president's doomsday headquarters very small and rather austere accommodations small compartment
Example 1 of 3
Quote examples
Steven Stucky
American Composer
Americans' distrust of the conspicuously intellectual - a habit we learned, I suppose, on the frontier, but which remains a feature of the national character - has the virtue of puncturing the pretentious and exposing the fake, but it may also have impaired American listeners' patience for music that is especially complex or austere.
Quote examples
Charles Dance
English Actor
My face lends itself to austere characters, and unless they're two-dimensional, I will do them. Any actor will tell you that an interesting villain is much more interesting to play.
Quote examples
Havelock Ellis
British Psychologist
In the early days of Christianity the exercise of chastity was frequently combined with a close and romantic intimacy of affection between the sexes which shocked austere moralists.
Quote examples
Bernard Tschumi
Swiss Architect
My apartment reflects my views as an architect. It is minimal, austere. The architecture doesn't impose itself upon you. The apartment is a stage for other things to take place.
Quote examples
John Mahoney
English Actor
I don't take much from my own father, because he was a very austere, quiet, private man who would come home from work, go to his parlour and play Beethoven on his piano.
Quote examples
Sally Phillips
British Actress
Bad impulse buys make you feel grim, don't they? It's like having consumer Tourette's. I gravitate towards austere foreign-language film DVDs when insecure.
Quote examples
Riccardo Muti
Italian Celebrity
I'm not shy in the spotlight. I might seem austere and even arrogant, but far from it, I'm actually shy.
Quote examples
Ambrose Bierce
American Journalist
The gambling known as business looks with austere disfavor upon the business known as gambling.
Quote examples
Paul Farmer
American Educator
I'm not an austere person.
Quote examples
Jose Mujica
Uruguayan Statesman
I am an austere president.
Quote examples
Steven Stucky
American Composer
Americans' distrust of the conspicuously intellectual - a habit we learned, I suppose, on the frontier, but which remains a feature of the national character - has the virtue of puncturing the pretentious and exposing the fake, but it may also have impaired American listeners' patience for music that is especially complex or austere.
Quote examples
Charles Dance
English Actor
My face lends itself to austere characters, and unless they're two-dimensional, I will do them. Any actor will tell you that an interesting villain is much more interesting to play.
Quote examples
Havelock Ellis
British Psychologist
In the early days of Christianity the exercise of chastity was frequently combined with a close and romantic intimacy of affection between the sexes which shocked austere moralists.
Quote examples
Bernard Tschumi
Swiss Architect
My apartment reflects my views as an architect. It is minimal, austere. The architecture doesn't impose itself upon you. The apartment is a stage for other things to take place.
Quote examples
John Mahoney
English Actor
I don't take much from my own father, because he was a very austere, quiet, private man who would come home from work, go to his parlour and play Beethoven on his piano.
Quote examples
Sally Phillips
British Actress
Bad impulse buys make you feel grim, don't they? It's like having consumer Tourette's. I gravitate towards austere foreign-language film DVDs when insecure.
Quote examples
Riccardo Muti
Italian Celebrity
I'm not shy in the spotlight. I might seem austere and even arrogant, but far from it, I'm actually shy.
Quote examples
Ambrose Bierce
American Journalist
The gambling known as business looks with austere disfavor upon the business known as gambling.
Quote examples
Paul Farmer
American Educator
I'm not an austere person.
Quote examples
Jose Mujica
Uruguayan Statesman
I am an austere president.
Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension