abetted; abetting

transitive verb

1
: to actively second and encourage (something, such as an activity or plan)
abet the commission of a crime
2
: to assist or support (someone) in the achievement of a purpose
The singer was abetted by a skillful accompanist.
especially : to assist, encourage, instigate, or support with criminal intent in attempting or carrying out a crime
often used in the phrase aid and abet
accused of aiding and abetting a criminal
abetment noun
abettor noun
or less commonly abetter
Choose the Right Synonym for abet

incite, instigate, abet, foment mean to spur to action.

incite stresses a stirring up and urging on, and may or may not imply initiating.

inciting a riot

instigate definitely implies responsibility for initiating another's action and often connotes underhandedness or evil intention.

instigated a conspiracy

abet implies both assisting and encouraging.

aiding and abetting the enemy

foment implies persistence in goading.

fomenting rebellion

Examples of abet in a Sentence

She abetted the thief in his getaway. Did he abet the commission of a crime? Their actions were shown to abet terrorism.
Recent Examples on the Web But it has been abetted, in the past few years, by a few factors. Jonah Weiner, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2024 Even before releasing the Sports app, Apple has quietly abetted this. Jacob Stern, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2024 Egyptian officials, meanwhile, have said this would end hopes for a future Palestinian state, something Cairo doesn't want to be seen as facilitating or abetting. Aya Batrawy, NPR, 26 Feb. 2024 But as our research found over the last year and a half, people are very resistant to that change and there are forces that are eating and abetting that resistance. Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024 About a year ago, a bipartisan group of lawmakers demanded to know if the company was certain its equipment was not used to aid or abet rights abuses in China, following reports that the Chinese government had been collecting DNA data from hundreds of thousands of Tibetans. Didi Tang, Fortune Well, 5 Jan. 2024 But the slide into narco-violence has also been abetted by social and economic crisis. Ivan Briscoe and Glaeldys González, Foreign Affairs, 4 Oct. 2023 Law, 58, was arrested in Mississauga, Ont., on May 2, 2023, and has been charged with 28 counts of first-degree murder and abetting and counseling suicide in the deaths of 14 people, ages 16 to 36, in Canada. Samira Asma-Sadeque, Peoplemag, 1 Feb. 2024 The proceeding that the president’s son crashed Wednesday (abetted by several committee Dems, who were obviously prepared for Hunter’s surprise appearance) was not even an evidentiary hearing. Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 11 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'abet.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English abetten, borrowed from Anglo-French abeter, from a-, prefix in transitive verbs (going back to Latin ad- ad-) + beter "to harass (a bear with dogs), bait," borrowed from Old Low Franconian *bētan; akin to Old English bǣtan "to set upon (with animals), bait" — more at bait entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of abet was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near abet

Cite this Entry

“Abet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abet. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

abet

verb
abetted; abetting
: to actively encourage or aid
abetment noun
abettor noun
also abetter

Legal Definition

abet

transitive verb
abetted; abetting
: to assist, encourage, instigate, or support with criminal intent in attempting or carrying out a crime
often used in the phrase aid and abet
abetment noun
abettor noun
also abetter

More from Merriam-Webster on abet

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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