Austereness

Austereness refers to a strict, simple, and often severe quality of life, behavior, or style. It emphasizes self-discipline, frugality, and a rejection of excessive luxury or ornamentation. It can apply to a person's character, a building's design, a financial policy, or even a literary style, reflecting a commitment to seriousness, restraint, and a focus on essentials. The underlying principle is often a prioritization of moral or practical values over material comforts and frivolous pursuits. It often implies a lack of extravagance, both in terms of personal habits and in the external environment.

Austereness meaning with examples

• The monastic order lived with a profound austereness, their lives dedicated to prayer, meditation, and manual labor. They rejected all forms of worldly pleasure, finding contentment in their simple, focused existence, and the austere beauty of the church.
• The government implemented a policy of fiscal austereness in response to the economic crisis, leading to cuts in public spending and increased taxes. This was intended to reduce the national debt, though it was difficult for many citizens.
• The stark white walls and minimal furnishings of the minimalist art gallery conveyed a sense of intellectual austereness. The gallery owner believed the unadorned space would force the audience to focus entirely on the art itself.
• Her writing style possessed an admirable level of literary austereness; her short, punchy sentences conveyed strong emotions without the embellishment of unnecessary prose, making the themes and characters even more powerful.