1
as in provokes
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in aids
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
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Recent Examples of abets
As Abel-Fattah repeatedly told her censors, all her previous criticism has been directed at either the state of Israel, or the political ideology that abets genocide.
—
Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 13 Jan. 2026
And yet his father, Martin Jarvis (Jonathan Banks), the original magnate, reluctantly, almost as penance for unleashing this child unto the world, abets the sociopathy of his son.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2025
Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 13 Jan. 2026
And yet his father, Martin Jarvis (Jonathan Banks), the original magnate, reluctantly, almost as penance for unleashing this child unto the world, abets the sociopathy of his son.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abets
Verb
-
What is beauty if not precisely the property that provokes us to abandon all pretense of analytic remove in our desperation to draw closer?—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The aroma of coffee brewing reliably provokes desire.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The weight drop also aids the electrical efficiency of the new engines, which rely much more on battery power than the previous generation.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Papaya is also known for its high fiber content, which aids in digestion and promotes regular bowel movements.—
Lana Barhum,
Verywell Health,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
That year, Waldo created the Asian and Asian American Classical Caucus, which promotes the study of how Asian and Asian American cultures have interpreted antiquity.—
Chang Che,
New Yorker,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Part of that surplus went toward the creation of the LA84 Foundation, which promotes youth sports by removing barriers and aiming to give all children, regardless of their socioeconomic background or ability, opportunities to participate in sports.—
Linh Tat,
Daily News,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The accountant trainee assists with accounting tasks at Atascadero State Hospital.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Meta is also reportedly in talks to use Google’s TPUs, and Broadcom assists the social media company with developing its own MTIA accelerator.—
Katie Tarasov,
CNBC,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Launched in 2020 after the 400th anniversary of the first African slaves arriving in Jamestown, Virginia, the decade-long initiative encourages people of African descent to visit or repatriate and reconnect with their heritage and culture.—
Melanie van Zyl,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Mar. 2026
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But a general election that includes voices from across the spectrum and encourages candidates to build coalitions and draw support from everyone?—
Tom Charron,
Mercury News,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Because of this extreme environment, testing helps ensure the missile’s guidance and structural systems remain reliable even after decades of service.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Hill said the 24/48 schedule helps with work-life balance by giving EMS staff more total days off per month.—
Steven Rosenbaum,
CBS News,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abets. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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