'antiromanticist' originates from modern English, specifically a compound of the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti' meaning 'against') and the noun 'romanticist' (formed from 'Romantic' + suffix '-ist').

'anti-' (Greek 'anti') combined with English 'romantic' (from French 'romantique' and earlier Medieval Latin/Old French influences) which produced 'romanticist' (an adherent or opponent label using '-ist'); these elements were joined in modern English to form 'antiromanticist'.

Initially, the construction would have referred specifically to opposition to the historical Romantic movement; over time, usage has broadened to include opposition to romantic sentimentality or romantic attitudes in general.