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
Under Florida law, anyone who aids, abets or counsels someone in the commission of a crime may be considered a principal in the first degree.
—
Julia Shapero, The Hill, 21 Apr. 2026
The speed at which the system adjudicates cases benefits deserving victims but also abets fraud.
—Ike Brannon, New York Daily News, 19 Apr. 2026
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
Julia Shapero, The Hill, 21 Apr. 2026
The speed at which the system adjudicates cases benefits deserving victims but also abets fraud.
—Ike Brannon, New York Daily News, 19 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abets
Verb
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But the question of what is true or not is futile, even if Calle deliberately provokes this curiosity.—
Elisa Wouk Almino
Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The flurry of imagery provokes a surreal sort of whiplash.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Furthermore, the work aids nuclear forensics by establishing a mineral fingerprint to reconstruct the specific temperatures and pressures of past or unidentified nuclear events.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
12 May 2026
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The addition of spoken word passages by local Geordie poet Cooper Robson, who drifts through balladic descriptions of community, working-class masculinity, and pickled onions, aids Knats in their explorations of their hometown.—
Archie Forde,
Pitchfork,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Bryan's Farm Tour helps support family farms across the country and promotes a festival-like atmosphere at those venues.—
Patrick Damp,
CBS News,
16 May 2026
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Winners of the Golden Apple Awards go on to help train and mentor the next generation of teachers, Mather said, which promotes a valuable sense of community.—
Evy Lewis,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
Verb
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And then Paul Harris (who assists Bottas across F1 weekends), who also stayed in the AirBnB in the room next door, is calling me.—
Alex Kalinauckas,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
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In addition, the money will go towards the Basic Needs Resource Center on campus which assists students facing food insecurity, housing instability and other similar challenges.—
Tarini Mehta,
Sacbee.com,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Responding to comments, asking for feedback, and giving shout-outs to active viewers fosters a sense of community and encourages continued engagement.—
Adam Rumanek,
Rolling Stone,
15 May 2026
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The moon in Taurus encourages you to go with the flow and stop forcing an outcome.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
When the Moon enters Taurus, stillness helps the truth feel safe enough to trust.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
14 May 2026
-
There’s a world where that actually helps reduce pressure and expectations on the filmmakers, which is often the challenge with indies.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abets. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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