Daily word

Austere

aw-STEER adjective

Severe, plain, or without comfort or decoration.

Example

The room was austere, with white walls, a desk, and no photographs.

Use it when

Use austere for style, discipline, budgets, environments, or personalities marked by restraint.

Etymology

From Greek austeros, meaning harsh or bitter.

Memory cue

Picture a stern room stripped of every soft detail.