1. (

• austere ,
• severe ,
• stark ,
• stern

) severely simple; "a stark interior" ;

2. (

• austere ,
• stern

) of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect; "an austere expression"; "a stern face" ;

3. (

• ascetic ,
• ascetical ,
• austere ,
• spartan

) practicing great self-denial; "Be systematically ascetic...do...something for no other reason than that you would rather not do it"- William James; "a desert nomad's austere life"; "a spartan diet"; "a spartan existence" ;