oppressor
n.a person or group that has power over others and uses that power to treat them unfairly or cruelly.
n.a person or entity that exercises unjust or cruel authority over others. Often used in political or social contexts to describe those who maintain systemic inequality.
“The people finally rose up against their oppressor.”
“In many historical dramas, the hero is a common person who challenges the local oppressor to bring about justice.”
“The movement sought to dismantle the structures of power that allowed the oppressor to maintain control over the labor force and the local economy.”
From Middle English oppressour, from Old French opressor and Latin oppressor; equivalent to oppress + -or.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.