as in boss
the person (as an employer or supervisor) who tells people and especially workers what to do
known as a tough but fair taskmaster
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of taskmaster
Cancer is a tough taskmaster, and doctors didn’t detect it early enough.
—
Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 1 Oct. 2025
For a man known around the Pentagon as a relentless, humorless taskmaster, McNamara seemed virtually unrecognizable on the party circuit, mingling casually with journalists, fellow government officials, and vivacious Georgetown hostesses.
—William Taubman, Air Mail, 20 Sep. 2025
The mercurial chef was a stern taskmaster who demanded the absolute best from everyone who worked for him.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
Basketball is a merciless taskmaster, demanding an almost inhuman tally of hours to perfect.
—Devon Henderson, Oc Register, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for taskmaster
Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 1 Oct. 2025
For a man known around the Pentagon as a relentless, humorless taskmaster, McNamara seemed virtually unrecognizable on the party circuit, mingling casually with journalists, fellow government officials, and vivacious Georgetown hostesses.
—William Taubman, Air Mail, 20 Sep. 2025
The mercurial chef was a stern taskmaster who demanded the absolute best from everyone who worked for him.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
Basketball is a merciless taskmaster, demanding an almost inhuman tally of hours to perfect.
—Devon Henderson, Oc Register, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for taskmaster
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taskmaster
Noun
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Outbidding the Philadelphia Phillies and former Boston boss Dave Dombrowski for him is about as likely as David Ortiz coming out of retirement to provide the pop this Red Sox lineup needs.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
12 Jan. 2026
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Among the squad of JPMorgan Chase investment bankers flying 2,500 miles west to California to pitch SpaceX was the lender’s boss, billionaire CEO Jamie Dimon, people with knowledge of the trip told CNBC.—
Hugh Son,
CNBC,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The Chiefs’ announcement has energized Missouri leaders around keeping the Royals.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
10 Jan. 2026
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Drivers will no longer be able to travel straight through the corridor, though county leaders say local access will remain available for people who live or work in the area.—
Nina Burns,
CBS News,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
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According to the foreman, the jury was leaning toward assigning 55% blame to the Angels and assigning Skaggs with the least amount, at 15%.—
Sydney Barragan,
Oc Register,
20 Dec. 2025
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Juan Antonio Nevarez-Porras, 40, a foreman for Renegade Construction since 2016, was traveling with his 16-year-old son, Jonathan, to Nashville, Tennessee, to visit family and attend the 100th anniversary of the Grand Ole Opry, his family said.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Residents in a Stockton zip code have reported their mail is being stolen and worry someone may have access to the master postal key.—
Carmela Karcher,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
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She was allowed to study there in her fifth year of college basketball because CU’s Boulder campus does not offer a master’s in criminal justice.—
Noelle Phillips,
Denver Post,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Back on the bridge, captain Nærbø steers the Polaris through the same fjords Norwegian ships have navigated for generations.—
Ryan Craggs,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Jan. 2026
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Hegseth announced last week that the Pentagon would formally censure Kelly, who retired from the military as a captain, starting the process to reduce his rank and retirement pay.—
Joe Walsh,
CBS News,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Ellison has focused on revitalizing CBS News since becoming CEO, installing The Free Press founder Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief in October.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
14 Jan. 2026
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Minneapolis’ police chief, Brian O’Hara, briefly described the shooting to reporters but gave no indication that the driver was trying to harm anyone.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
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To address the problem, water managers many years ago lowered the levels, but the tree islands never recovered, leaving ghosts of islands that lack the elevation to support the majestic hardwoods found in other parts of the Everglades, such as cypress, pond apple and pop ash trees.—
Amy Green,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
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Krupp said at the time that the restructuring would affect middle- and upper-level managers, not front-line caseworkers.—
Hayleigh Colombo,
IndyStar,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Mark Macpherson, the detachment commander for Shelburne District RCMP, told CBC News that video footage captured from a nearby residence shows the dogs ran out into the road while Nickerson was riding his bike past their owners’ property.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
11 Jan. 2026
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Target the Supreme Leader and senior Revolutionary Guards commanders.—
Bobby Ghosh,
Time,
11 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Taskmaster.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taskmaster. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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