molest

verb

mo·​lest mə-ˈlest 

molested; molesting; molests

transitive verb

1

: to make unwanted or improper sexual advances towards (someone)

especially : to force physical and usually sexual contact on (someone)

He was sent to prison for molesting a minor.

2

somewhat old-fashioned : to annoy, disturb, or persecute (a person or animal) especially with hostile intent or injurious effect

Who doth molest my contemplation?

—Shakespeare

Bees flew past him, bees flew into him, bees settled upon his coat, bees paused questioningly in front of him … but not a single bee molested him.

—P. G. Wodehouse

At a hearing last week, activists persuaded the commission that the porcupines were being chased, molested and "worried" for human amusement.

—Kelli Anderson

molestation

ˌmō-ˌle-ˈstā-shən 

ˌmä-, 

-lə-

noun

molester

mə-ˈle-stər 

noun

Examples of molest in a Sentence

He was sent to jail for molesting children.

It was illegal to molest, capture, or kill any of the animals in the park.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Arkansas resident is accused of molesting the victim, then 9 years old, while vacationing at a residence in Florida in 2020. —Assistant Editor, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026

Joseph and Kendra Duggar arrested, charged On March 17, Joseph Duggar, 31, was arrested and charged with lewd and lascivious behavior after being accused of molesting a 9-year-old girl in Panama City Beach, Florida, in 2020, the Bay County Sheriff's Office announced. —Melina Khan, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026

Joseph has been accused of molesting a 9-year-old girl during a 2020 family vacation. —Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Mar. 2026

Josh had previously admitted to molesting multiple girls as a teen, including some of his sisters, but charges were never filed. —Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French molester, from Latin molestare, from molestus burdensome, annoying; akin to Latin moles mass

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for molest

• abreast
• accessed
• addressed
• appressed
• armrest
• arrest
• assessed
• attest
• backrest
• behest
• bequest
• caressed

Kids Definition

molest

verb

mo·​lest mə-ˈləst 

1

: to injure or disturb by interfering : annoy

2

: to make unwelcome sexual advances to

especially : to force physical sexual contact on

molestation

ˌmōl-ˌes-ˈtā-shən 

ˌmōl-əs-, 

ˌmäl-ˌes-

noun

molester

mə-ˈles-tər 

noun

Legal Definition

molest

transitive verb

mo·​lest mə-ˈlest 

1

: to annoy, disturb, or persecute especially with hostile intent or injurious effect

2

: to make annoying sexual advances to

specifically : to force physical and usually sexual contact on (as a child)

molestation

ˌmō-ˌles-ˈtā-shən, ˌmä-, -ləs- 

noun

molester noun