'asexualize' originates in English, formed by the prefix 'a-' (from Greek 'a-', meaning 'not' or 'without') + 'sexual' (from Latin 'sexus' via Old French/Latin) + the suffix '-ize' (from Greek/Latin via French, meaning 'to make' or 'to cause to be').

'sexual' comes from Latin 'sexus' meaning 'sex'; the suffix '-ize' comes from Greek '-izein' via Latin '-izare' and French '-iser/-ize'. The verb 'sexualize' developed in modern English, and later the negating prefix 'a-' was attached to form 'asexualize', creating the sense 'to make not sexual'.

Initially formed to mean 'to make not sexual' or 'to remove sexual characteristics'; over time it has retained that core sense while also being used figuratively to mean 'to portray or treat as nonsexual' or 'to remove sexual identity'.