retrograde
Moving backward or returning to an earlier, usually worse, state. / To move backward in a celestial orbit relative to the observer. / To move backward or regress.
AdjectiveIntransitive Verb
This term carries a heavy sense of regression and decline. In a social or political context, it suggests a disappointing slide backward into outdated beliefs or inferior conditions, often implying a loss of progress or a failure to evolve.
In astronomy, it describes a specific optical illusion where a planet seems to move in reverse across the sky. This scientific application is neutral, whereas the adjective form is almost always critical or negative when applied to human behavior or policy.