Austere — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ȯ-ˈstir/ aus·tere

Meaning & Definition of Austere

Austere (adjective)

  1. stern and cold in appearance or manner
  2. somber, grave
  3. morally strict, ascetic

Austere (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint

    "an austere conductor who is as tough on himself as he is on the orchestra"

    similar: authoritarian, flinty, hard, harsh, heavy-handed, ramrod, rigid, rigorous, severe, stern, strict, tough
    related: demanding, exacting, uncharitable, unforgiving, adamant, adamantine, callous, hardened, hard-hearted, hard-line, immovable, implacable, inflexible, merciless, ossified, pitiless, relentless, rock-ribbed, stiff, unbending, uncompromising, unrelenting, unsparing, unyielding, dour, gruff, ascetic, monastic, monkish, browbeating, bullying, determined, firm, resolved, single-minded, steadfast, unflinching, dogged, intractable, obstinate
    opposite: clement, forbearing, gentle, indulgent, lax, lenient, tolerant
    near: easy, easygoing, laid-back, undemanding, charitable, kind, merciful, mild, patient, soft, softhearted, accepting, compromising, yielding, responsive, willing, acquiescent, agreeable, amenable, complaisant, compliant, flexible, pliable, pliant

  2. harsh and threatening in manner or appearance

    "an austere fortress at the top of some formidable cliffs"

    similar: dour, fierce, flinty, forbidding, grim, gruff, intimidating, lowering, rough, rugged, severe, stark, steely, stern, ungentle
    related: bleak, cold, hostile, inhospitable, inimical, unfriendly, unsympathetic, adamant, bound, determined, firm, intent, purposeful, resolute, resolved, steadfast, unflinching, fixed, hard, hardened, hardheaded, immovable, implacable, inflexible, ironhanded, mulish, obdurate, obstinate, rigid, self-willed, set, stiff, stubborn, unbending, uncompromising, unrelenting, unyielding, willful, immutable, unchangeable, black, cheerless, dark, gloomy, glum, joyless, melancholic, moody, morose, sulky, sullen, surly, brooding, grave, humorless, melancholy, serious, sober, sobersided, solemn, somber, staid, unsmiling, weighty
    opposite: benign, benignant, gentle, mild, nonintimidating, tender
    near: bland, meek, mellow, soft, soothing, easy, quiet, tranquil, agreeable, bright, cheerful, inviting, pleasant, pleasing, sweet, glad, happy, lighthearted, merry, mirthful, sunny, featherbrained, flighty, frivolous, giddy, goofy, harebrained, light-headed, playful, scatterbrained, silly

  3. 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"

    similar: no-frills, spartan, stark
    related: plain, simple, unadorned, undecorated, unelaborate, unfancy
    opposite: deluxe, Lucullan, luxe, luxurious, plush
    near: adorned, decorated, elaborate, fancy

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Austere

The most common words with a similar meaning to Austere:

authoritarian, flinty, hard, harsh, heavy-handed, ramrod, rigid, rigorous, severe, stern, strict, tough, dour, fierce, forbidding, grim, gruff, intimidating, lowering, rough, rugged, stark, steely, ungentle, no-frills, spartan

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Austere

Words with the opposite meaning of Austere:

clement, forbearing, gentle, indulgent, lax, lenient, tolerant, benign, benignant, mild, nonintimidating, tender, deluxe, Lucullan, luxe, luxurious, plush

Related Words for Austere

demanding, exacting, uncharitable, unforgiving, adamant, adamantine, callous, hardened, hard-hearted, hard-line, immovable, implacable, inflexible, merciless, ossified, pitiless, relentless, rock-ribbed, stiff, unbending, uncompromising, unrelenting, unsparing, unyielding, ascetic, monastic, monkish, browbeating, bullying, determined

Near Antonyms of Austere

easy, easygoing, laid-back, undemanding, charitable, kind, merciful, patient, soft, softhearted, accepting, compromising, yielding, responsive, willing, acquiescent, agreeable, amenable, complaisant, compliant, flexible, pliable, pliant, bland, meek, mellow, soothing, quiet, tranquil, bright

Word Forms of Austere

Derived words: austerely (adverb), austereness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Austere

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin austerus, from Greek austēros harsh, severe; akin to Greek hauos dry sere

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Austere

Frequently Asked Questions about Austere

What does "Austere" mean?

"Austere" means stern and cold in appearance or manner. As an adjective, it is defined as: stern and cold in appearance or manner. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Austere"?

Other words for "Austere" include authoritarian, flinty, hard, harsh, heavy-handed, ramrod, rigid and rigorous. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Austere" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Austere"?

There are 116 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Austere". Common alternatives include authoritarian, flinty, hard, harsh, heavy-handed, ramrod, rigid, rigorous, severe and stern.

What is the opposite of "Austere"?

Antonyms of "Austere" include clement, forbearing, gentle, indulgent, lax, lenient, tolerant and benign. Near antonyms include easy, easygoing, laid-back and undemanding.

How do you use "Austere" in a sentence?

Examples of "Austere" in a sentence: "an austere conductor who is as tough on himself as he is on the orchestra"; "an austere fortress at the top of some formidable cliffs"; "for the private office of the CEO of the large corporation, the room is unexpectedly austere".

Is "Austere" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Austere" is an adjective.

Is "Austere" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Austere" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Austere"?

"Austere" is pronounced /ȯ-ˈstir/ and divided into syllables as aus·tere.