Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

slave driver

noun

Definition of slave driver

1 : a supervisor of slaves at work
2 : a harsh taskmaster
Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about slave driver

Keep scrolling for more

Synonyms for slave driver

Synonyms

taskmaster

Visit the Thesaurus for More 

Examples of slave driver in a Sentence

The new boss is a real slave driver. the director is a real slave driver, but actors still clamor for the opportunity to work with him

First Known Use of slave driver

1792, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about slave driver

Share slave driver

Statistics for slave driver

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for slave driver

The first known use of slave driver was in 1792

See more words from the same year

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for slave driver

slave driver

noun

English Language Learners Definition of slave driver

: someone who is in charge of slaves and makes them work
disapproving : someone who makes people work very hard

See the full definition for slave driver in the English Language Learners Dictionary

More from Merriam-Webster on slave driver

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with slave driver

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for slave driver

Comments on slave driver

What made you want to look up slave driver? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

canker

Listen to the pronounciation of canker

to corrupt or become corrupted

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

A Green Quiz

  • shamrock
  • What is the best definition of green-eyed monster?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games