'anoplotheriid-resembling' originates from modern English compounding, specifically from 'anoplotheriid' + the participial suffix '-resembling', where 'anoplotheriid' refers to the family name Anoplotheriidae and '-resembling' means 'having the form or qualities of'.

'anoplotheriid' is derived from the family name 'Anoplotheriidae' (New Latin), itself based on the genus name 'Anoplotherium' coined in the 19th century; 'Anoplotherium' comes from Greek elements meaning roughly 'unarmed' (anoplos) and 'beast' (therion). The adjective form was later combined with English '-resembling' to form the compound adjective.

Initially the stem 'anoplotheriid' referred specifically to members of the taxonomic family Anoplotheriidae; over time the compounded adjective came to be used to describe resemblance to members of that family rather than membership itself.