How pop culture went multipolar

multipolar (adj)
/ˌmʌl.tiˈpəʊ.lər/

• Involving several countries or centers of power
  The world is becoming increasingly multipolar
  -Synonym: multilateral, polycentric
  -Antonym: unipolar, centralized

utterly (adv)
/ˈʌt.əl.i/

• Completely or extremely
  She was utterly amazed by the performance
  -Synonym: completely, totally
  -Antonym: partially, slightly

throngs (n)
/θrɒŋz/

• Large crowds of people
  Throngs of fans gathered at the stadium
  -Synonym: crowds, masses
  -Antonym: handful, few

descend on (phr v)
/dɪˈsend ɒn/

• To arrive at a place suddenly and in large numbers
  Tourists descend on the city every summer
  -Synonym: swarm, flood
  -Antonym: depart, leave

exemplify (v)
/ɪɡˈzem.plɪ.faɪ/

• To be or give a typical example of something
  Her career exemplifies the success of hard work
  -Synonym: illustrate, demonstrate
  -Antonym: obscure, misrepresent

consummate (adj)
/ˈkɒn.sə.mət/

• Perfect or complete in every way
  He is a consummate professional
  -Synonym: expert, accomplished
  -Antonym: inexperienced, unskilled

banter (n)
/ˈbæn.tər/

• Friendly and humorous conversation
  They enjoyed the banter during lunch
  -Synonym: jesting, teasing
  -Antonym: seriousness, solemnity

skit (n)
/skɪt/

• A short, funny play or performance
  The students performed a skit at the assembly
  -Synonym: sketch, parody
  -Antonym: drama, epic

strutting (v)
/ˈstrʌt.ɪŋ/

• Walking in a proud and confident way
  He was strutting around after his promotion
  -Synonym: swaggering, parading
  -Antonym: slouching, skulking

pouting (v)
/ˈpaʊ.tɪŋ/

• Pushing the lips forward to show annoyance or for a pose
  She was pouting after being told no
  -Synonym: sulking, moping
  -Antonym: smiling, grinning

savvy (n)
/ˈsæv.i/

• Practical knowledge and ability
  She has a lot of business savvy
  -Synonym: shrewdness, acumen
  -Antonym: ignorance, naivety

a bevy of (phrase)
/ə ˈbev.i əv/

• A large group of similar people or things
  A bevy of models walked down the runway
  -Synonym: group, collection
  -Antonym: individual, single

log onto (phr v)
/lɒɡ ˈɒn.tuː/

• To access a computer system or website
  He logged onto his account to check emails
  -Synonym: sign in, access
  -Antonym: log off, sign out

win acclaim (v)
/wɪn əˈkleɪm/

• To receive public praise or approval
  The novel won acclaim from critics
  -Synonym: earn praise, gain recognition
  -Antonym: face criticism, be ignored

the emergence of (phrase)
/ði ɪˈmɜː.dʒəns əv/

• The process of becoming known or coming into existence
  The emergence of new technologies is rapid
  -Synonym: appearance, rise
  -Antonym: disappearance, decline

chic (adj)
/ʃiːk/

• Stylish and fashionable
  She always wears chic outfits
  -Synonym: elegant, trendy
  -Antonym: unfashionable, outdated

sift (v)
/sɪft/

• To examine something thoroughly so as to isolate that which is most important
  They sifted through the data for answers
  -Synonym: analyze, scrutinize
  -Antonym: overlook, ignore

mock (v)
/mɒk/

• To make fun of someone or something in a cruel way
  They mocked his accent
  -Synonym: ridicule, tease
  -Antonym: praise, compliment

upshot (n)
/ˈʌp.ʃɒt/

• The final result or outcome of a situation
  The upshot of the meeting was a new policy
  -Synonym: outcome, result
  -Antonym: cause, origin

put off (phr v)
/pʊt ɒf/

• To delay or postpone something
  They put off the meeting until next week
  -Synonym: postpone, delay
  -Antonym: advance, expedite

decentralisation (n)
/ˌdiːˌsen.trə.laɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/

• The process of distributing power from a central authority to local units
  The government's decentralisation policy gave more autonomy to local councils
  -Synonym: devolution, delegation
  -Antonym: centralisation, concentration

tastemaker (n)
/ˈteɪstˌmeɪ.kər/

• A person who influences what is fashionable or popular
  The magazine is considered a tastemaker in the fashion industry
  -Synonym: trendsetter, influencer
  -Antonym: follower, conformist

hidebound (adj)
/ˈhaɪd.baʊnd/

• Unwilling to change because of traditional or conservative views
  The hidebound attitudes of the committee blocked any progress
  -Synonym: conservative, rigid
  -Antonym: open-minded, progressive

high-end (adj)
/ˌhaɪˈend/

• Of very good quality and usually expensive
  They opened a high-end boutique in the city center
  -Synonym: premium, luxury
  -Antonym: low-end, budget

right-wing (adj)
/ˌraɪtˈwɪŋ/

• Supporting conservative or traditional political views
  The party's right-wing policies appealed to older voters
  -Synonym: conservative, traditionalist
  -Antonym: left-wing, liberal

coercion (n)
/kəʊˈɜː.ʃən/

• The use of force or threats to make someone do something
  He claimed the confession was obtained through coercion
  -Synonym: compulsion, pressure
  -Antonym: persuasion, consent

heart-throb (n)
/ˈhɑːt.θrɒb/

• A famous man who is very attractive, especially to women
  The actor became a teenage heart-throb overnight
  -Synonym: idol, crush
  -Antonym: —

spectacle (n)
/ˈspek.tə.kəl/

dangle (v)
/ˈdæŋ.ɡəl/

• To hang loosely or swing freely
  Her earrings dangled as she turned her head
  -Synonym: hang, swing
  -Antonym: secure, fasten

nonchalantly (adv)
/ˈnɒn.ʃəl.ənt.li/

• In a calm and relaxed manner, showing no anxiety
  He nonchalantly shrugged off the criticism
  -Synonym: casually, indifferently
  -Antonym: anxiously, nervously

emblazon (v)
/ɪmˈbleɪ.zən/

• To decorate or display something prominently
  The team's logo was emblazoned on their jerseys
  -Synonym: adorn, decorate
  -Antonym: obscure, conceal

dewy-faced (adj)
/ˈdjuː.i.feɪst/

• Having a fresh and youthful appearance
  The actress had a dewy-faced charm in the film
  -Synonym: fresh-faced, youthful
  -Antonym: aged, weathered

government-backed (adj)
/ˌɡʌv.ən.məntˈbækt/

• Supported or financed by the government
  The project is a government-backed initiative to improve infrastructure
  -Synonym: state-supported, publicly funded
  -Antonym: privately funded, independent

killjoy (n)
/ˈkɪl.dʒɔɪ/

• A person who spoils the enjoyment of others
  Don't be a killjoy—join the party!
  -Synonym: spoilsport, party pooper
  -Antonym: life of the party, merrymaker

frippery (n)
/ˈfrɪp.ər.i/

• Showy or unnecessary ornamentation
  The room was filled with frippery and lacked substance
  -Synonym: gaudiness, embellishment
  -Antonym: simplicity, minimalism