reactionary

This term carries a strong negative connotation, typically used by critics to describe an ideology that is not merely conservative but actively seeks to reverse progress or dismantle existing reforms. It suggests a rigid adherence to the past and a resistance to inevitable social evolution. When used as a noun, it refers to an individual or group driving this reversal. Unlike a conservative who may wish to preserve the status quo, a reactionary desires to return to a specific, idealized previous era.