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taskmaster
noun
task·mas·ter
ˈtask-ˌma-stər
: one that imposes a task or burdens another with labor
Synonyms
Examples of taskmaster in a Sentence
pitiless taskmaster that he was, Ebenezer Scrooge only reluctantly let his ill-paid clerk have Christmas Day off
known as a tough but fair taskmaster
Recent Examples on the Web
Governed by taskmaster Saturn, Capricorns are often recognized for their perseverance and ambition.
—Valerie Mesa, Peoplemag, 4 May 2024
For many of us, the electronic medical record (EMR) is an unrelenting taskmaster, delivering a near-constant flow of bureaucratic to-dos.
—Mara Gordon, NPR, 4 May 2024
Worse bondage of intemperate men, enslaved by that most inexorable of all taskmasters, sensual habit.
—Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2024
The performances are all solid, even if Neill is the only one who gets to play even a bit against his most familiar type(*), as a taskmaster who has keeps projecting his resentment at the shortening of his own tennis career onto everyone around him.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2024
But the show does not sweep the grind of creation under the rug, especially as Peter evolves into an obsessive taskmaster.
—Elisabeth Vincentelli, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2023
Who among the emerging young players (RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley), veterans on expiring contracts (Reggie Bullock, Alec Burks) or reacquainted Thibodeau loyalists (Taj Gibson, Derrick Rose) was not going to be all-in with an old-school taskmaster, in his first year on the job?
—Harvey Araton, New York Times, 9 May 2021
Charlie could be something of a taskmaster.
—Paul Daugherty, The Enquirer, 20 Apr. 2021
Behind his drum kit, Guerra was a taskmaster.
—Hector Saldana, San Antonio Express-News, 2 Feb. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'taskmaster.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1530, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near taskmaster
Cite this Entry
“Taskmaster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/taskmaster. Accessed 7 Jun. 2024.
Kids Definition
taskmaster
noun
task·mas·ter
-ˌmas-tər
: one that assigns a task or burdens another with labor
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