abetting 1 of 2

adjective

as in assisting

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abetting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of abet
1
as in provoking
to bring (something volatile or intense) into being the belief that violent entertainment abets violent behavior in the people who partake of it

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in aiding
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

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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 abetting
Verb
With the goal of smuggling themselves to Turkey, the women are eventually found out for keeping a secret or two from the conspirators abetting their plan. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2026 Prosecutors won a 77-year sentence on Wednesday for 27-year-old Kyle Spitze on charges of producing child pornography, possessing and accessing the material, and abetting the distribution of animal crush videos. — Hudson Crozier, The Washington Examiner, 20 Aug. 2026 The White House has in recent days also pressured Israel’s leader to condemn Israeli settlers’ siege of Palestinians in the West Bank, which soldiers stand accused of abetting. — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 19 Aug. 2026 Olivia Hernandez Olivo was sentenced in June 2025 after her attorney entered an Alford plea for aiding and abetting in second-degree murder on her behalf. — Shannon Tyler june 17, Idaho Statesman, 17 June 2026 Donaldson’s wife, Eleanor Donaldson, 60, has denied several charges of aiding and abetting her husband’s alleged offending. — ABC News, 11 June 2026 On Friday, May 29, Kenneth Law, 60, pleaded guilty to 14 counts of aiding and abetting suicide in Canada, the Crown Prosecution Service said in a news release. — Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 1 June 2026 Thomas Peters, who had been Feuer’s chief of civil litigation, entered a guilty plea in 2022 to aiding and abetting extortion in an attempt to cover up what the city attorney’s office had done. — The Editorial Board, Daily News, 20 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abetting
  1. provoking
  2. aiding
  3. promoting
  4. assisting
  5. encouraging
  6. helping
  7. raising
  8. inciting
Verb
  • The best of these films are simultaneously suspenseful, thought-provoking and dazzling.
    — David Faris, TheWeek, 27 Oct. 2026
  • In 2012 American entrepreneur Russ George spread roughly 100 tons of iron in the North Pacific, provoking international criticism that a commercial venture had begun geoengineering without adequate oversight.
    — Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of provoking
Verb
  • The commentary on the traditional cultural celebration prompted Pulido to put out an open call for invitations to perform at quinceañeras across the Congressional District, aiding his popularity in the region.
    — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The posting notes that this role will include aiding in investigations.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of aiding
Verb
  • Rather than campaign for Whatley, he's been promoting his new book criticizing fellow Republicans.
    — Colin Campbell, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026
  • As lieutenant governor, Stratton’s priorities included promoting equity in women’s health and leading a program aimed at putting tax dollars from cannabis sales into the communities most affected by the war on drugs.
    — Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of promoting
Verb
  • Sources told The Times that the federal Environmental Protection Agency is assisting in the toxicology investigation, while state labs are testing weed from the farm.
    — Paige St. John, Los Angeles Times, 8 Nov. 2026
  • The directors and cinematographer Eva Kraljević shared a small shepherd’s shed, assisting with various chores including cows that had to be milked twice a day.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of assisting
Verb
  • And those were largely thanks to dad encouraging me to do that.
    — Ashley Hume , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The White House has been hands off with artificial intelligence while encouraging the buildout of data centers — a massive infrastructure gambit that is now in jeopardy after data centers proved a loser at the ballot box.
    — Justin Papp,Garrett Downs,Megan Cassella, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of encouraging
Verb
  • Désir, a married father of two young children, is among several people accused of helping advance the conspiracy that culminated in Moïse’s killing.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026
  • The competition eventually opened to public voting, with customers and supporters helping Tapestry secure the top spot.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of helping
Verb
  • The former San Francisco supervisor wants to pursue legislation to prevent insurance companies from raising the rates or dropping the coverage of a policyholder who files a claim.
    — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Arizona voters passed a measure that bans cities and towns from raising taxes on groceries until July 2027.
    — Rachel Treisman, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of raising
Verb
  • Tundu Lissu, a Tanzanian opposition leader and chairperson of the Chadema party, was sentenced to four years in prison after he was convicted of inciting people to disrupt last year's election but was acquitted of the more serious charge of treason.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Its founder, far-right activist Vladislav Pozdnyakov, was sentenced to two years probation for inciting hatred toward women, but his sentence was overturned just three months later when Russia changed its laws on political extremism.
    — Tom Sanders, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of inciting

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Cite this Entry

“Abetting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abetting. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.

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