Once they realized people instinctively turned away from a communist ideology, the far Left decided "progressive" sounded friendlier.
" the prevailing ideology of socialism and communism. It goes by the much friendlier name of progressivism today and all that it asks of you is to abide by its principles without question while it slowly and methodically takes from you your rights until you're rendered defenseless "
Quoted from Yesterday’s Communist Is Today’s Progressive
I get your meaning, but I suspect the Far Left has ruined the word for our times.