| austere definitions |
| # | Definition | Sets |
| 1 | of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor | 66 sets |
| 2 | strict, stern; unadorned, ascetic | 60 sets |
| 3 | stern | 58 sets |
| 4 | without decoration; strict | 55 sets |
| 5 | stern; severe; plain | 50 sets |
| 6 | forbiddingly stern; ascetic; without comfort or enjoyment; severely simple and unornamented; ex. a monk's austere life; ex. austere grandeur of the cathedral; n. austerity | 44 sets |
| 7 | severe or stern in manner; without adornment or luxury, simple, plain; harsh or sour in flavor | 42 sets |
| 8 | strict | 41 sets |
| 9 | severe or stern in appearance; undecorated | 40 sets |
| 10 | severe or stern in manner | 37 sets |
| 11 | severe | 34 sets |
| 12 | without adornment; bare; severely simple; ascetic | 31 sets |
| 13 | stern, severe, strict | 28 sets |
| 14 | adj. severely simple; unadorned. | 24 sets |
| 15 | unadorned; stern; forbidding; without excess | 23 sets |
| 16 | stern, severe, plain | 23 sets |
| 17 | stern in manner or appearance | 22 sets |
| 18 | forbiddingly stern; severely simple | 21 sets |
| 19 | forbiddingly stern; severely simple and unornamented | 21 sets |
| 20 | very bare, bleak | 20 sets |
| 21 | rigorous, stern, severely simple | 18 sets |
| 22 | (1) acting in a stern manner (2) something that is severely simple and plain | 17 sets |
| 23 | (adj.) severe or stern in manner; without adornment or luxury, simple, plain; harsh or sour in flavor | 17 sets |
| 24 | strict, stern | 16 sets |
| 25 | severe in manner or appearance | 16 sets |
| 26 | severe in manner or appearance; uncompromising; strict; forbidding | 15 sets |
| 27 | severely simple | 15 sets |
| 28 | severely simple; unadorned. | 14 sets |
| 29 | stern, strict | 14 sets |
| 30 | strict, stern, unadorned, ascetic | 14 sets |
| 31 | (adj.) - very bare, bleak, simple | 14 sets |
| 32 | severely moral and strict simple and plain | 13 sets |
| 33 | bare | 13 sets |
| 34 | rigidly severe; severely simple or bare | 13 sets |
| 35 | harsh or sour in flavor | 12 sets |
| 36 | severe; strict | 12 sets |
| 37 | strict or severe | 11 sets |
| 38 | severe; without frills | 11 sets |
| 39 | strict; severely simple | 11 sets |
| 40 | stern, strict, unadorned | 11 sets |