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 The investigation into Peck began after the child’s family reported that the dialogue coach had molested the minor over a six-month period. Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 5 Mar. 2024 An Indiana man is accused of molesting two children, ages 13 and 8, and violating his lifetime parole. Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 27 Feb. 2024 Sadat said his client was molested as a 9-year-old and that his mother was at times neglectful and his father would leave pornographic magazines around the house. City News Service, Orange County Register, 6 Feb. 2024 Court records state the boy alleges that Navarrete began molesting him at age 12 or 13. The Arizona Republic, 29 Feb. 2024 The news came after federal authorities said in December that a Celebrity Cruises crew member admitted to molesting children at an onboard youth center. Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 26 Feb. 2024 Valdivia was charged with three felony counts related to weapons and one misdemeanor count for annoying or molesting a victim younger than 18. Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2024 He was also charged with a misdemeanor count of annoying/molesting a minor that allegedly took place June 1. Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2024 Bland, 33, is charged with felony false imprisonment along with misdemeanor counts of indecent exposure and annoying or molesting minors. Cameron MacDonald, The Mercury News, 15 Jan. 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 18 Mar. 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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