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tinpot

British  
/ ˈtɪnˌpɒt /

adjective

  1. inferior, cheap, or worthless

  2. paltry; unimportant

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

"We will not accept being treated like children. We will not accept being treated as if we were some tinpot republic," a furious Lula said at an event in the country's northeast.

From Barron's May 29, 2026

But even tinpot dictators and autocrats at least pay lip-service to working for the common good.

From Salon Oct. 12, 2024

They are more clever and subtle than your garden variety tinpot dictatorship.

From New York Times Jan. 23, 2018

That means no cheating, and we should all applaud him for his courage in saying it instead of mocking him or making him out to be an Americanized version of a third world tinpot.

From US News Oct. 24, 2016

No tinpot order of mice was going to stand against the might of Cluny the Scourge.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques

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