Now we are reduced to a third-rate power, letting the Federation broker competitions while Cardassians hold one of our sacred relics hostage.

From the dominant voice she had sunk to a second-rate, even third-rate, power at the conference tables.

"If shareholders don't stand up for their rights, we are going to be a third-rate power."

Faced with the distressing choice between unremitting toil and becoming a third-rate economic power, we ought to consider a third possibility: re-education of the customer.

If we lose India, we will decline to a third-rate power.

The war with the Klingons turned us into a third-rate power.

Business leaders who have firsthand experience with this problem warn that this country could become a third-rate economic power unless it radically remakes its schools.

Henceforth, Sparta was reduced to the status of a third-rate power, and retreated into isolation.

The Cardassia of your universe is a third-rate power.

When the pre-eminent power in the world, supported by the world, defeats a third-rate power, only bullies can brag.