molest

verb

mo·​lest mə-ˈlest How to pronounce molest (audio)
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 children.
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 noun
molester 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 In 2018, a judge in Ingham County, Michigan, sentenced Nassar to 40 to 175 years in prison for molesting young girls under the guise of treatment. Sarah Fitzpatrick, NBC News, 23 Apr. 2024 The accusations According to the sheriff’s office, Chitty plied the 15-year-old girl with alcohol and molested her while she was passed out March 3 on a couch inside his church, First Baptist, 200 62nd St. in the Marathon. David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2024 After his arrest March 20, the suspect was booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail on suspicion of annoying or molesting a minor. Nollyanne Delacruz, The Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2024 The family also reported to police that Peck molested the child over a six-month period. Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2024 Federal authorities also said in December that a Celebrity Cruises crew member admitted to molesting children at an onboard youth center. Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 15 Apr. 2024 Between 1988 and 1992, Munoz was convicted of molesting two girls, ages 12 and 2, according to the District Attorney’s Office. Lyndsay Winkley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2024 Police were called to ACE Empower Academy, which hosts students from fifth to eighth grade, on South Sunset Avenue on Dec. 13, 2023, for a report of an adult man annoying or molesting a minor. Nollyanne Delacruz, The Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2024 That investigation began in September and focused on the allegations of families who said Olea had molested their daughters, ages 4 and 7. Ana Claudia Chacin, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'molest.' 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, 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

Time Traveler
The first known use of molest was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near molest

Cite this Entry

“Molest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/molest. Accessed 2 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

molest

verb
mo·​lest mə-ˈləst How to pronounce molest (audio)
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 How to pronounce molest (audio)
ˌmōl-əs-
ˌmäl-ˌes-
noun
molester noun

Legal Definition

molest

transitive verb
mo·​lest mə-ˈlest How to pronounce molest (audio)
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)
molester noun

More from Merriam-Webster on molest

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