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
-
Fogel is always looking for the visual angle that provokes an emotional response.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
22 Jan. 2026
-
This ends up being just one of Aemond’s defining moments, which further provokes war.—
Skyler Trepel,
PEOPLE,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The calcium found in milk is also packaged with vitamin D, which aids in the absorption of calcium.—
Mira Miller,
Verywell Health,
19 Jan. 2026
-
An appropriate portfolio aids you in capitalizing on gains and mitigating losses from individual stock declines.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The event, which promotes TV shows and movies for the year and beyond, had only been announced to the press.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
31 Jan. 2026
-
North Dakota and Rhode Island have among the most restrictive statewide bans, requiring phones be kept in inaccessible storage, according to an analysis by the Institute for Families and Technology, a nonprofit that promotes digital safety for children.—
Kayla Huynh,
jsonline.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
There are no lifeguards here, but the City of Naples's Beach Patrol monitors area beaches daily and assists with any medical emergencies that arise.—
Beth Luberecki,
USA Today,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Allred zeroed in on her purchase of stock in Palantir Technologies, a contractor that assists immigration officials with deportations.—
Gromer Jeffers Jr,
Dallas Morning News,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
And, adds Scott, with a smile, Billy (their French poodle who has appeared in this column before) encourages donations to animal protection organizations.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Days ahead of the 2026 Grammys, Elton John encourages young artists to follow their dreams while introducing the Best New Artist nominees in a short film from Spotify.—
Angie Martoccio,
Rolling Stone,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
To make PSCs, the perovskite film has to be heated, which helps the perovskite crystals grow.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Providing a ‘this-or-that’ approach helps reduce decision fatigue.—
Kate Wieczorek,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abets. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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