'antipsalmist' originates from the Greek-derived prefix 'anti-' meaning 'against' combined with 'psalmist', which ultimately comes from Greek 'psalmos' (via Late Latin 'psalmus') meaning 'song' or 'poem'.

'antipsalmist' is a modern English compound formed by joining 'anti-' + 'psalmist'. 'Psalmist' developed from Greek 'psalmos' → Late Latin 'psalmus' → Old French/Medieval Latin forms → Middle English 'psalm'/'psalmist', and the productive prefix 'anti-' (from Greek) was attached in modern usage to create the compound.

Initially the components meant 'against' + 'song/psalm'; over time the compound has been used to mean a person opposing the use or authority of psalms in worship and, more broadly, a critic of traditional religious singing.