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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb abet contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of abet are foment, incite, and instigate. While all these words mean "to spur to action," abet implies both assisting and encouraging.

aiding and abetting the enemy

When might foment be a better fit than abet?

The synonyms foment and abet are sometimes interchangeable, but foment implies persistence in goading.

fomenting rebellion

When can incite be used instead of abet?

The words incite and abet can be used in similar contexts, but incite stresses a stirring up and urging on, and may or may not imply initiating.

inciting a riot

In what contexts can instigate take the place of abet?

While in some cases nearly identical to abet, instigate definitely implies responsibility for initiating another's action and often connotes underhandedness or evil intention.

instigated a conspiracy

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 abet Meanwhile, my attempts to live in the moment, even those abetted by meditation, have felt squishy, uncertain, and evasive. Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 16 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 The book details the investigation into a string of unsolved killings in and around the special operations base, revealing a network of narco-trafficking conspiracies that corrupt police abetted and the military covered up. Lynette Rice, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025 The book reveals a network of drug trafficking conspiracies that corrupt police abetted and that the military covered up. Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for abet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abet
Verb
  • Not retaining his services would have provoked outrage.
    James Pearce, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
  • But the forcefulness of pastors' rhetoric about Kirk has provoked conflicting feelings for some believers.
    Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • By aiding mariners, Airy believed, such measurements provided a tangible service to the state that the newfangled spectroscopy might not be able to match.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Michael Kayode’s cannonball long throws, which Slot said Liverpool had practised defending on Friday and spoken about again on Saturday, were a constant problem, but the visitors repeatedly, and needlessly, aided Brentford by putting the ball out of play in their own defensive third.
    Tim Spiers, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Earlier this year, a New York judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by Nicklaus Companies against Nicklaus that attempted to prevent the golfer from using his name, image and likeness to promote his golf course design business.
    Dave Smith, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2025
  • After decades of ignoring advances in data and analytics and mainly promoting from within, the Rockies seem intent on hiring an outsider to be their new head of baseball operations, after dismissing general manager Bill Schmidt at the start of October.
    Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • If agents plan to detain or arrest an individual, sheriff deputies must be present — but do not assist — to ensure safety.
    Vanessa Swales, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Laugh Factory Chicago is crowdsourcing to assist night manager Nathan Griffin with legal funds after he was arrested Friday morning outside the comedy club.
    Glenn Garner, Deadline, 26 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Ultimately, the moment encouraged the Soviet population to agitate for household comforts.
    Justin Worland, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Building a bat house can encourage them to stick around a little longer and eat up all those pesky insects.
    Kirsten Fiscus, Nashville Tennessean, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • When it was announced that Girls collaborators Jenni Konner and Bruce Eric Kaplan (both Jewish) had been hired as showrunners for Season 2, the news brought some hope that Konner’s perspective in particular would help to make these characters lovable.
    Judy Berman, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Cunha helped earn his start by reporting to Carrington a day before scheduled last week after returning from Japan with Brazil.
    Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Abet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abet. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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