austere

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He was brought up in Protestantism, to which was often attributed his austere demeanour, but gave up religion in his teens.

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026

Books, music and cushions are popular recommendations, standing in contrast to the more austere guidance from Israeli authorities, which includes having a radio, batteries, a phone charger and ID papers.

From Barron's • Mar. 8, 2026

The austere institution southwest of Tokyo was set up by the founder of consumer-electronics giant Panasonic to nurture future leaders who, like Takaichi, didn’t have the privileged background typical of Japanese politicians.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 6, 2026

“Mise en place,” French for everything in its place, sounds austere, but the practice itself is anything but.

From Salon • Dec. 20, 2025

Like my parents, Mr. Pirzada took off his shoes before entering a room, chewed fennel seeds after meals as a digestive, drank no alcohol, for dessert dipped austere biscuits into successive cups of tea.

From "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri