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
Relevance
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
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 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
-
The aroma of coffee brewing reliably provokes desire.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Deadline can reveal the first trailer for the radical love story revolving around Suzanne and undocumented migrant Osmane, whose relationship provokes a wave of anger and indignation all around them, forcing them to resist.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Heart Health The potassium in prunes also aids in regulating blood pressure.—
Randi Gollin,
Martha Stewart,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Knox used to serve on a volunteer board overseeing the local Crossroads Foundation, which aids women with substance use disorders.—
Blake Nelson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Holiday marketing promotes diamond jewelry only as Valentine's Day or milestone anniversary gifts.—
Malana VanTayler,
USA Today,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Select a potting mix that promotes drainage.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The company assists with common relief options such as Offers in Compromise, installment agreements, penalty abatement and currently not collectible (CNC) status, as well as innocent spouse relief, bank levy assistance, back-tax filing and tax representation.—
Dan Simms,
USA Today,
27 Feb. 2026
-
But the company now has 100 merchants that have expressed interest in leveraging the technology, which assists retail teams in making decisions across price optimization, merchandising, assortment planning and marketing.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Paramount’s pressure campaign had been relentless, first winning over theater owners, who expressed alarm over Netflix’s business model that encourages consumers to watch movies in their homes.—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Feb. 2026
-
The former vice president encourages voters to cast an early ballot Friday or vote in person on election day.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Feb. 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 7 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
