tin-pot

or tin·pot

[ tin-pot ]

adjective

1. inferior; paltry; shoddy:

   The tin-pot farce lasted only three performances before closing.

2. of minor importance or significance:

   a tin-pot dictator, trying to look like a statesman.

Word History and Origins

Origin of tin-pot¹

First recorded in 1835–45; tin ( def ) (from the believed inferior quality of a tin pot) + pot ¹( def )

Example Sentences

Rather than a rant of an accused criminal, his followers interpret what he says as the rallying cry of a leader fighting “tin-pot dictators,” as he angrily states, while in reality it is Trump who actually aspires to become a dictator.

From Salon

They would trade our Republic for a tin-pot dictatorship in a heartbeat if it meant an everlasting grip on power.

From Salon

For example, when he writes of people who are charging him with crimes, and people trying to uphold democracy, that “they would trade our Republic for a tin-pot dictatorship in a heartbeat if it meant an everlasting grip on power,” he has perfectly described himself.

From Salon

To them, transforming America into a Third World tin-pot dictatorship is just part of the plan.

From Salon

Mr. Trump is the master of exploiting these interviews to argue his case to the public and earn some from free media while mercilessly pillorying the silly tin-pot sword-waver.

From Washington Times