slave driver
Merciless work demander
A slave driver is someone who oversees enslaved people and forces them to work, historically through threat of violence.
The term now commonly describes any harsh, demanding boss or supervisor who pushes workers relentlessly: My manager is a real slave driver—no breaks, no excuses.
The figurative use retains the sense of exploitation and cruelty.
Cruel, absolute ruler
- despotRuler with absolute power
- oppressorOne who dominates cruelly
- authoritarianFavoring absolute control
- exploiterOne who uses unfairly
brutal · harsh · cruel · merciless · domineering · heavy-handed · draconian · iron-fisted
Worker who directs others
- bossWorkplace superior
- supervisorOne who directs workers
- managerOne who directs others
- superintendentChief administrative official
drill sergeant · disciplinarian · enforcer · director · controller · chief · headman · monitor
Continuing without pause
- unrelentingRefusing to let up
- exactingDemanding great care
- perfectionistOne demanding flawlessness
- unyieldingRefusing to give way
unsparing · strict · stern · hard-driving · micromanager · workaholic · burnout · overtime
tyrant
Cruel, absolute ruler
- despotRuler with absolute power
- oppressorOne who dominates cruelly
- authoritarianFavoring absolute control
exploiter · brutal · harsh · cruel · merciless · domineering · heavy-handed · draconian · iron-fisted · inhuman
foreman
Worker who directs others
- bossWorkplace superior
- supervisorOne who directs workers
- managerOne who directs others
superintendent · drill sergeant · disciplinarian · enforcer · director · controller · chief · headman · monitor · whip
relentless
Continuing without pause
- unrelentingRefusing to let up
- exactingDemanding great care
- perfectionistOne demanding flawlessness
unyielding · unsparing · strict · stern · hard-driving · micromanager · workaholic · burnout · overtime · pressure
- slaverybondage, chattel, thrall, Middle Passage, slaveholders
- exploitationexploit, predatory, sex trafficking, take advantage, human trafficking
- dominatorsdictator, tyrant, despot, autocrat, overlord
- exploitersexploiter, predator, parasite, user, leech
- Taskmastersdisciplinarian, martinet, drill sergeant, drill instructor, hardass
- bossesboss, bossman, manager, supervisor, foreman
slave driverpushover
Easily defeated opponent
softie · soft touch · softy
slave driverliberator
One who frees others
servant leader · emancipator · advocate · mentor · abolitionist
driver, slave, slavery, overseer, enslave, enslaved, enslavement, slaver, taskmaster