Definition of paper tiger
: one that is outwardly powerful or dangerous but inwardly weak or ineffectual
paper tiger
noun
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Examples of paper tiger in a Sentence
The new laws are just paper tigers without any method of enforcement.
Recent Examples of paper tiger from the Web
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But because ambition is so overwhelming — because self-interest is so powerful — these paper tigers were allowed to prey on women year after year.
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But the largest score would be to invade, most likely by proxy, Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania, thereby exposing NATO as a paper tiger, unable or unwilling to mount a military response.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'paper tiger.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of paper tiger
1836
PAPER TIGER Defined for English Language Learners
paper tiger
noun
Definition of paper tiger for English Language Learners
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: someone or something that appears powerful or dangerous but is not
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