'depoeticize' originates from Modern English, formed by the prefix 'de-' (from Latin 'de-', meaning 'off, away, or reverse') attached to 'poeticize' (from 'poetic' + suffix '-ize'). 'Poetic' derives from Latin 'poeticus' and ultimately from Greek 'poiētikos'.

'poetic' came into English via Latin 'poeticus', which in turn comes from Greek 'poiētikos' (related to 'poiētēs', 'maker' or 'poet'). The verbalizing suffix '-ize' comes from Greek '-izein' via Latin and Old French, while the prefix 'de-' is from Latin 'de-'. Together these elements produced the modern English formation 'depoeticize'.

The root 'poetic' originally meant 'pertaining to poets or poetry', and 'poeticize' meant 'to make poetic'; the derived verb 'depoeticize' therefore developed the opposite sense: 'to remove poetic qualities' or 'to make less poetic.'