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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb abet contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of abet are foment, incite, and instigate. While all these words mean "to spur to action," abet implies both assisting and encouraging.

aiding and abetting the enemy

When might foment be a better fit than abet?

The synonyms foment and abet are sometimes interchangeable, but foment implies persistence in goading.

fomenting rebellion

When can incite be used instead of abet?

The words incite and abet can be used in similar contexts, but incite stresses a stirring up and urging on, and may or may not imply initiating.

inciting a riot

In what contexts can instigate take the place of abet?

While in some cases nearly identical to abet, instigate definitely implies responsibility for initiating another's action and often connotes underhandedness or evil intention.

instigated a conspiracy

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of abet Meanwhile, my attempts to live in the moment, even those abetted by meditation, have felt squishy, uncertain, and evasive. Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 16 Sep. 2025 Special prosecutors investigating the country’s martial law crisis also indicted on Friday former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo who was appointed by Yoon on charges of abetting insurrection and committing perjury, a prosecution spokesperson said. CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2025 The book details the investigation into a string of unsolved killings in and around the special operations base, revealing a network of narco-trafficking conspiracies that corrupt police abetted and the military covered up. Lynette Rice, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025 The book reveals a network of drug trafficking conspiracies that corrupt police abetted and that the military covered up. Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for abet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abet
Verb
  • However, this year's ad has provoked widespread criticism, with some even calling for a boycott of Sephora.
    Reia Li, AZCentral.com, 4 Nov. 2025
  • These characters are so thin, their storylines so flimsy and their motives so underbaked that there’s no recognizable emotion underlying any of it, and thus no feeling to be provoked by watching it.
    Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • He was assisted off the field before being carted into the locker room, and returned to the sideline a short time later with his right foot in a protective boot and on crutches.
    Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 2 Nov. 2025
  • The British Transport Police are being assisted by the Counter Terrorism Police amid their investigation, according to the BTP news release.
    Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 2 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Similarly, the Interstate Consortium for the Sustainable Development of the Legal Amazon Region brings together Amazonian states to curb deforestation, promote green agriculture and attract green investment.
    MSNBC Newsweek, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Ausberry was promoted to the interim job in Woodward’s place, and the board gave him the authority to lead the coaching hire.
    Chris Vannini, New York Times, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The new album’s first-week sales were aided by its availability across five vinyl variants (including one signed), two CD iterations (one of them signed), alongside a standard digital download album.
    Keith Caulfield, Billboard, 2 Nov. 2025
  • He was put on another inhibitor, this time a MEK inhibitor, to aid in tumor shrinkage.
    Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 2 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Instead of scrolling through Instagram—or, admittedly, hitting the snooze button a few too many times—Vig encourages you to spend that time sprucing up your space.
    Kelsey Mulvey, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2025
  • Police are encouraging anyone with knowledge of the crash to come forward with further details.
    Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • For example, Smith said, in a major city during a holiday weekend, Prepared’s technology helped reduce the number of emergency calls operators had to handle by by 33% because AI was able to deal with non-critical calls like noise complaints.
    Julie Coleman, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Han says the funds raised through the Hong Kong listing will help the robotaxi firm continue to spend on R&D and deployment.
    Sydney Lake, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Abet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abet. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on abet

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