taskmaster

American  

[task-mas-ter, tahsk-mah-ster] / ˈtæskˌmæs tər, ˈtɑskˌmɑ stər /

noun

1. a person whose function it is to assign tasks, especially burdensome ones, to others.

2. a person who supervises rigorously the work of others.

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taskmaster British  

/ ˈtɑːskˌmɑːstə /

noun

1. a person, discipline, etc, that enforces work, esp hard or continuous work

   his teacher is a hard taskmaster

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Other Word Forms

• taskmastership noun
• taskmistress noun

Etymology

Origin of taskmaster

First recorded in 1520–30; task + master

Example Sentences

This 64-year-old taskmaster knows a lot more about spotting talent than the people handing out the stars.

From The Wall Street Journal

Louis Sr. was considered by his family to be a taskmaster.

From Los Angeles Times

With rare exceptions, bosses typically stand in as the villains in workplace movies and are often portrayed as manipulative, hard-driving taskmasters.

From The Wall Street Journal

Despite his hard taskmaster approach, "likeability was important to him", one former employee said.

From BBC

Grateful Dead biographer David Browne wrote of Lesh, “Beneath that affable exterior lay a taskmaster and perfectionist.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• disciplinarian