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
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The flurry of imagery provokes a surreal sort of whiplash.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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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
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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
Verb
-
The new law also adds restrictions to K-12 and higher education institutions, prohibiting school voucher funds from going to any school that promotes or that is affiliated with a terrorist organization.—
CBS Miami Team,
CBS News,
9 May 2026
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This promotes pleasant feelings between you and everyone around you.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
9 May 2026
Verb
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Detroit immediately went on a 6-0 run with three straight Jalen Duren dunks off Cade Cunningham assists and never looked back.—
Geoff Clark OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
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The second app, called Beyond the Match and managed by afternoon students, assists hospitality employees.—
Janice Phelan,
Kansas City Star,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Armbruster encourages drivers to compare prices between stations instead of automatically stopping at the same place every time to fill up.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 May 2026
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The equal time law encourages more speech and empowers voters to decide the outcome of elections.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Schools as a grassroots power base also helps explain why the people of Minneapolis were able to mount a disciplined and effective defense against ICE when its agents began kidnapping their children on their way to and from school.—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
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Player of the Week Senior outside hitter Declan Garvey helps Lincoln-Way Central go 6-1 while also being named to the all-tournament team at the Lincoln-Way East Invitational.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abets. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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