abets

verb

present tense third-person singular of abet
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

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 But the smaller scope here abets sustained and meaningful engagement with some heartbreaking characters. — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2026 Under Nevada law, a person who aids or abets a murder can be held criminally responsible for the killing. — Chloe Melas, NBC news, 1 Sep. 2026 Under Nevada law, someone who aids or abets a crime—or encourages, hires, commands, or otherwise induces another person to commit it—can be prosecuted as a principal. — Rebecca Schneid, Time, 16 Aug. 2026 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 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
  1. provokes
  2. aids
  3. promotes
  4. assists
  5. encourages
  6. helps
Verb
  • Along with their organization’s missions, the pair picked horror because of the conversations the genre provokes.
    — Isabelle Farina, Variety, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Another question, says Professor Trotti at Ithaca College, is whether a public execution portrays strength or provokes horror.
    — Patrik Jonsson, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of provokes
Verb
  • This process aids in the development of classic sparkling wine flavors such as shortbread, brioche, and crème fraiche as well as a smooth, creamy mouthfeel and a sense of opulence.
    — Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The waiver gives the studio permission to create a duplicate of an actor in costume, which aids in VFX work during postproduction.
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of aids
Verb
  • Massaging it into the scalp promotes growth (stimulating blood flow to the area is how the magic happens), while applying it through the lengths reduces breakage and smoothes each strand for a silky, frizz-free finish.
    — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Dietary fiber helps add bulk to stool and promotes regular bowel movements.
    — Sarah Jividen, Verywell Health, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of promotes
Verb
  • Services offer help with navigating Medicare Sandra O'Neill, a director at Family and Children's Association on Long Island, runs a program that assists people who have Medicare questions.
    — Jennifer Bisram, CBS News, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Uribe was based at the Mather National Guard facility near Rancho Cordova and served as a member of the state Counterdrug Task Force, a unit that assists local, tribal and federal law enforcement entities in combating drug traffickers.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of assists
Verb
  • Meta encourages its users to name their AIs—and encourages its AIs to think like humans.
    — Andrew R. Chow, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Scott-Chandler says assistance will be available for those who qualify and encourages families not to hesitate to seek help.
    — Aaron Parseghian, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of encourages
Verb
  • Consistent with their hypothesis, the secretion signal helps transfer the enzyme out of the cell, while the lipid anchor holds it near the cell surface.
    — Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Get assistance with heating bills The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps qualified households with one-time financial assistance for heating and electricity bills, as well as emergency aid to prevent shut-offs.
    — Dan Avery, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of helps

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Cite this Entry

“Abets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abets. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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