1
as in to provoke
to bring (something volatile or intense) into being
the belief that violent entertainment abets violent behavior in the people who partake of it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to assist
to provide (someone) with what is useful or necessary to achieve an end
car thieves are often unwittingly abetted by owners foolishly leaving the keys in the ignition
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Period ambiance is kept low-key, mostly relegated to deftly chosen golden oldies (including a closing Sinatra track) that abet Kim Hong-jip and Lee Jin-hee’s original score.
—
Dennis Harvey, Variety, 20 Sep. 2025
Stage one is often abetted by venture capital, as in the case of Uber, which in its early days kept its ride prices artificially low.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 19 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 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
Dennis Harvey, Variety, 20 Sep. 2025
Stage one is often abetted by venture capital, as in the case of Uber, which in its early days kept its ride prices artificially low.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 19 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 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
-
His allies would say the victim had provoked their own death and blame Democrats for inciting the violence.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
25 Jan. 2026
-
In the main event of SmackDown, Trick Williams defeated Damian Priest by DQ after provoking Sami Zayn.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The move comes as nine local district attorneys launched a coalition this week to assist in prosecuting federal law enforcement officers who violate state laws.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
1 Feb. 2026
-
In California, members of the National Guard have peace officer powers when called into active service by the governor and are assisting authorities in an area where military assistance is required, according to state law.—
Alexandra Kukulka,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
LinkedIn data reveals that employees who combine hard and soft skills get promoted about 8% faster than those who focus only on technical abilities, and skills like communication, teamwork and problem solving are linked to promotions up to 11% faster.—
Sho Dewan,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The project was planned to clear the area of outdated and dilapidated buildings, to attract new businesses and promote economic revitalization.—
Jessica Alvarado Gamez,
Denver Post,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
She was also charged with concealing and aiding a fugitive, but that charge was later dropped.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Choose Iowa gives food banks more options A state program bringing together farmers and consumers also has played a role in aiding food banks.—
F. Amanda Tugade,
Des Moines Register,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Warned about assignments, encouraged to job hunt This story is based on interviews with 10 current and former Post staffers drawn from both the newsroom and the business side of the paper.—
David Folkenflik,
NPR,
30 Jan. 2026
-
In a recent appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, Matt Damon, the star of many movies that college students may not have seen, said that Netflix has started encouraging filmmakers to put action sequences in the first five minutes of a film to get viewers hooked.—
Rose Horowitch,
The Atlantic,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Ollie dreams of having enough money to help his family move somewhere else and lead a different kind of life.—
Caroline Carlson,
Literary Hub,
2 Feb. 2026
-
Experts recommend managing chronic stress with mindfulness, meditation and consistent physical activity to help lower cortisol levels and support healthier metabolic function and weight regulation, per Cleveland Clinic.—
Shiv Sudhakar,
FOXNews.com,
2 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abet. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
