molested; molesting; molests
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
ShakespeareBees 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
P. G. WodehouseAt a hearing last week, activists persuaded the commission that the porcupines were being chased, molested and "worried" for human amusement.—Kelli Anderson
Kelli AndersonExamples 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
Sacramento jurors convicted a delivery driver who molested a 12-year-old at the child’s home in 2023, said Sacramento County District Attorney’s officials Wednesday.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 4 Mar. 2026
Investigation uncovered 75 Catholic clergy molested more than 300 children in Rhode Island since 1950, though actual victim and perpetrator numbers likely run much higher.
—Kimberlee Kruesi, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026
At the time, investigators knew Osika had a pending Hammond child molesting case from November 2021.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
After Jackson’s death in 2009, Wade Robson, a choreographer and director, and James Safechuck, a writer, actor, and director, stepped forward with claims Jackson molested them in the 1980s and 1990s, sometimes during overnight stays at Neverland Ranch.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for molest
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Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 4 Mar. 2026
Investigation uncovered 75 Catholic clergy molested more than 300 children in Rhode Island since 1950, though actual victim and perpetrator numbers likely run much higher.
—Kimberlee Kruesi, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026
At the time, investigators knew Osika had a pending Hammond child molesting case from November 2021.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
After Jackson’s death in 2009, Wade Robson, a choreographer and director, and James Safechuck, a writer, actor, and director, stepped forward with claims Jackson molested them in the 1980s and 1990s, sometimes during overnight stays at Neverland Ranch.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for molest
Cite this Entry
“Molest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/molest. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
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)
molester
noun
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