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   austerity

   /ɔːˈstɛrɪti/

   noun

   • 1. sternness or severity of manner or attitude: "he was noted for his austerity and his authoritarianism" Similar sternnessausterenessseveritystrictnessgrimnessseriousnesssombrenessgravenessgravitysobernessstiffnessdournessflintinessstoninesssteelinessOpposite cheerfulness
   • ▪ plainness and simplicity in appearance: "the room was decorated with a restraint bordering on austerity" Similar plainnesslack/absence of adornmentlack/absence of decorationlack/absence of ornament/ornamentationlack/absence of embellishmentunpretentiousnessstarknessausterenesssparenessseverityunpretentiousnessclassic linesclean lineslack/absence of clutterrestraintpurityOpposite ornateness
   • ▪ a feature of an austere way of life: "his uncle's austerities had undermined his health"
   • 2. difficult economic conditions created by government measures to reduce public expenditure: "the country was subjected to acute economic austerity" Similar restraintmoderationeconomyseverityabstemiousnessfrugalityrigourcontinenceself-abnegationself-denialself-deprivationself-restraintcautionprudenceprovidencecanninesshardshipprivationdeprivationpenuryOpposite prosperity

   Word Origin late Middle English: from French austérité, from Latin austeritas, from austerus ‘severe’ (see austere).

   Scrabble Points: 12

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