as in assisting
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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
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Recent Examples of abetting
ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026
Although they were explicitly programmed to refuse to help hackers, the bots were duped into abetting the cybercrime.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
There is a painful irony in this reversal of national fortunes, best illustrated by the current running joke in Brazil that the White House has opened a US embassy on American soil, a nod to the US government’s nefarious history of abetting authoritarianism in Brazil.
—Michaëla De Lacaze Mohrmann, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
This included prominent businessmen, landowners, poets, novelists, and local officials who were detested for abetting Japanese rule.
—Kornel Chang
september 19, Literary Hub, 19 Sep. 2025
Special prosecutors investigating the country’s martial law crisis also indicted on Friday former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo who was appointed by Yoon on charges of abetting insurrection and committing perjury, a prosecution spokesperson said.
—CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2025
Hotel tycoon Ong Beng Seng has been spared a jail sentence after pleading guilty to abetting a senior Singapore politician in obstructing the course of justice in a rare gifting scandal in the city-state known for its squeaky clean image.
—Jonathan Burgos, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
For the small-scale paintings, being mysterious and also chic are only abetting sales.
—Angelica Villa, ARTnews.com, 13 Mar. 2025
The aiding-and-abetting language has raised fears among advocates for homeless people that anyone seeking to help those living in encampments could soon have a target on their backs.
—Ethan Varian, The Mercury News, 14 Feb. 2025
Verb
But the charges laid in court Wednesday were two counts of war crime murder and three counts of aiding or abetting a war crime murder.
—ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026
Although they were explicitly programmed to refuse to help hackers, the bots were duped into abetting the cybercrime.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
There is a painful irony in this reversal of national fortunes, best illustrated by the current running joke in Brazil that the White House has opened a US embassy on American soil, a nod to the US government’s nefarious history of abetting authoritarianism in Brazil.
—Michaëla De Lacaze Mohrmann, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
This included prominent businessmen, landowners, poets, novelists, and local officials who were detested for abetting Japanese rule.
—Kornel Chang
september 19, Literary Hub, 19 Sep. 2025
Special prosecutors investigating the country’s martial law crisis also indicted on Friday former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo who was appointed by Yoon on charges of abetting insurrection and committing perjury, a prosecution spokesperson said.
—CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2025
Hotel tycoon Ong Beng Seng has been spared a jail sentence after pleading guilty to abetting a senior Singapore politician in obstructing the course of justice in a rare gifting scandal in the city-state known for its squeaky clean image.
—Jonathan Burgos, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
For the small-scale paintings, being mysterious and also chic are only abetting sales.
—Angelica Villa, ARTnews.com, 13 Mar. 2025
The aiding-and-abetting language has raised fears among advocates for homeless people that anyone seeking to help those living in encampments could soon have a target on their backs.
—Ethan Varian, The Mercury News, 14 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abetting
Verb
-
Christopher Nolan has cemented his status as one of our most consistently original and thought-provoking directors.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
6 Apr. 2026
-
In essence, Bright Lights, Big City, instead of being emotionally provoking and riveting, is distressingly gray and tedious, enlivened only by Fox’s gifted histrionics.—
Duane Byrge,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The meeting opened with a public comment period where several residents and activists chided Snelling and the Police Department and accused them of aiding and defending federal immigration authorities during the monthslong enforcement effort.—
Sam Charles,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Health benefits of chicken include providing complete protein and aiding muscle growth.—
Lindsey DeSoto,
Health,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In response to these discoveries, a two-week training program on Silk Road archaeology has been established, aimed at promoting the protection and transmission of Silk Road cultural heritage, as concluded by The Global Times.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Her Game Too says it is partnered with 80 of the 92 clubs in the English football pyramid, and a handful of clubs held dedicated fixtures promoting its campaign in the Premier League last season.—
Cerys Jones,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Police body camera video played during the proceedings showed the women assisting Arielle Konig, whose face was covered in blood.—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Towns returned the favor, assisting on three Brunson baskets — each coming in the fourth quarter, when the game tightened and every possession mattered more.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Setting kind, consistent boundaries and encouraging independence helps kids develop important life skills and emotional regulation.—
Taylor Grothe,
Parents,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Clever Mercury in your sign trines lucky Jupiter in your 5th House of Delight, giving your words a playful glow and encouraging authentic self-expression.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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At the time, advocates told WCCO the approach focuses on harm reduction and helping both communities and users stay safer while working toward recovery.—
Ashley Grams,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Her hospital has recently started a menopause support group led by doctors and, at the request of participants, an upcoming session will focus on helping women navigate through the marketing onslaught.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Perhaps the easiest way to start an argument online is to post a video of a mother raising her child.—
Micah Barkley,
Bloomberg,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Political parties were disincentivized from forming coalitions—which might have unified the anti-Orbán vote—by incrementally raising the threshold required for alliances to enter Parliament.—
Kapil Komireddi,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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He was also suspended from X that year for violating its rules on inciting violence, but had his account reactivated in 2023.—
Amarachi Orie,
CNN Money,
6 Apr. 2026
-
She was imprisoned in Salimgarh Fort (a part of Red Fort) in Delhi by her father for more than 20 years for inciting her brother, Muhammad Akbar, to commit treason.—
Tamanna Nangia,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abetting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abetting. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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