'anti-sophistical' originates from Modern English, combining the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti' meaning 'against') with 'sophistical' (from Late Latin/Greek roots related to 'sophistry').

'anti-sophistical' developed as a compound of 'anti-' + 'sophistical'; 'sophistical' itself derives from Late Latin 'sophisticus' and Greek 'sophistikós', ultimately related to Greek 'sophós' ('wise') and 'sophistēs' ('one who uses wisdom' / 'sophist'). Over time these formed the English adjective 'sophistical', and the Modern English compound 'anti-sophistical' came to be used to indicate opposition to sophistry.

Originally, the root 'sophist' and related forms conveyed 'wise person' or skill in argument; over time 'sophistry' acquired the sense of deceptive or specious argument. Consequently, 'anti-sophistical' evolved to mean 'against deceptive/specious reasoning' or 'not employing sophistry'.