gorbasm

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

The affection shown by US liberals for Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

Register: derogatory, slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

For instance, [Rush Limbaugh] coined the term “Gorbasm” to describe liberals' “expression of sheer delight” whenever Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev “was on the scene.” News of a Gorbasm was accompanied by its own theme song—the “Imperial March” from Star Wars, also known as Darth Vader's theme.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “gorbasm” mean?

The affection shown by US liberals for Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

Is “gorbasm” formal or informal?

gorbasm is generally derogatory, slang.