abetted; abetting
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
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
Schuman is charged with one count of making a fraudulent insurance benefit claim and one count of assisting, abetting, conspiring with and soliciting a person in unlawful act, according to officials.
—
Julia Marnin
july 11, Sacbee.com, 11 July 2025
Pacific Beach’s single-family housing character is under siege by developers abetted by a handful of politicians, according to Neighbors for a Better California Chair Marcella Bothwell.
—Steven Mihailovich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 June 2025
Hadi stages the action here and throughout the movie with fluent energy, abetted by the agile camerawork of Tudor Vladimir Panduru (My Happy Family, Graduation).
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2025
Twenty years of occupation of Southern Lebanon led to high Israeli and Lebanese casualties and created the conditions that abetted Hezbollah’s rise to power.
—Andrew P. Miller, Foreign Affairs, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for abet
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Julia Marnin
july 11, Sacbee.com, 11 July 2025
Pacific Beach’s single-family housing character is under siege by developers abetted by a handful of politicians, according to Neighbors for a Better California Chair Marcella Bothwell.
—Steven Mihailovich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 June 2025
Hadi stages the action here and throughout the movie with fluent energy, abetted by the agile camerawork of Tudor Vladimir Panduru (My Happy Family, Graduation).
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2025
Twenty years of occupation of Southern Lebanon led to high Israeli and Lebanese casualties and created the conditions that abetted Hezbollah’s rise to power.
—Andrew P. Miller, Foreign Affairs, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for abet
Cite this Entry
“Abet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abet. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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