abet

verb

ə-ˈbet 

abetted; abetting

transitive verb

1

: to actively second and encourage (something, such as an activity or plan)

abet the commission of a crime

2

: to assist or support (someone) in the achievement of a purpose

The singer was abetted by a skillful accompanist.

especially : to assist, encourage, instigate, or support with criminal intent in attempting or carrying out a crime

—often used in the phrase aid and abet

accused of aiding and abetting a criminal

abetment

ə-ˈbet-mənt 

noun

abettor noun

or less commonly abetter

ə-ˈbe-tər 

Synonyms

• brew
• ferment
• foment
• incite
• instigate
• pick
• provoke
• raise
• stir (up)
• whip (up)

Choose the Right Synonym for abet

incite, instigate, abet, foment mean to spur to action.

incite stresses a stirring up and urging on, and may or may not imply initiating.

inciting a riot

instigate definitely implies responsibility for initiating another's action and often connotes underhandedness or evil intention.

instigated a conspiracy

abet implies both assisting and encouraging.

aiding and abetting the enemy

foment implies persistence in goading.

fomenting rebellion

Examples of abet in a Sentence

She abetted the thief in his getaway.

Did he abet the commission of a crime?

Their actions were shown to abet terrorism.

Recent Examples on the Web

The normalization of Florida’s slavery whitewash has been abetted by a supine press. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2023

At around the same time, Stein — abetted by his then-wife Linda — increasingly began to scour the New York clubs for new talent. —Chris Morris, Variety, 2 Apr. 2023

The film has a jaunty tone of deadpan glee, abetted by its soundtrack of ’60s and ’70s jazz standards. —Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 4 Sep. 2023

But after countless Octobers of pinstripes and Green Monsters, and divisional dominance abetted in part by their underlings’ futility, the division has finally turned upside down. —Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 25 Aug. 2023

Violently suppressed labor strikes, crooked cops abetting the Ku Klux Klan, the shadow of the Holocaust, the horrors of Jim Crow and, later, mainstream resistance to the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War — all these made their way into Guston’s often deceptively buoyant paintings. —Aruna D’souza, New York Times, 19 July 2023

As Ziegler says, this is only the start of what the Dobbs ruling, abetted by fanatical legislators, has unleashed. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 9 Aug. 2023

The blithely destructive force of wealth, abetted by the crushingly cavalier power of law enforcement, are at the dramatic center of film after film, and much of Chaplin’s comedy mocks the honored emblems of respectable society. —Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 28 July 2023

The recent television renaissance, abetted by the rise of streaming services, shook the industry out of its 22-episode, too-many-procedurals rut and brought us all manner of glorious (and not-so-glorious) serial storytelling. —Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Middle English abetten, borrowed from Anglo-French abeter, from a-, prefix in transitive verbs (going back to Latin ad- ad-) + beter "to harass (a bear with dogs), bait," borrowed from Old Low Franconian *bētan; akin to Old English bǣtan "to set upon (with animals), bait" — more at bait entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

abet

verb

ə-ˈbet 

abetted; abetting

: to actively encourage or aid

abetment

-mənt 

noun

abettor noun

also abetter

-ˈbet-ər 

Legal Definition

abet

transitive verb

ə-ˈbet 

abetted; abetting

: to assist, encourage, instigate, or support with criminal intent in attempting or carrying out a crime

—often used in the phrase aid and abet

abetment noun

abettor noun

also abetter

ə-ˈbe-tər