'energy-destabilising' originates as a compound of the English word 'energy' (from Greek 'energeia' via Latin/Old French) and the adjective-forming use of 'destabilise' (from French 'destabiliser', ultimately from Latin root 'stabilis' with prefix 'de-' meaning 'remove' or 'undo').

'energy' came into English from Greek 'energeia' -> Latin/Old French -> Middle English as 'energy'; 'destabilise' entered English via French 'destabiliser' (from Late Latin/Latin root 'stabilis'). The compound form 'energy-destabilising' is a modern technical formation in English, combining the noun 'energy' with the present-participle/adjectival form of 'destabilise'.

Initially, 'destabilise' meant 'to make unstable'; when combined with 'energy' the modern compound specifically denotes causes or processes that make an energy state or energy distribution unstable.