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
By the afternoon of April 10, one week after Aldis said she was assaulted, a total of seven additional women reported to police that they were assaulted or molested by Borger during a massage.
—Laura Bauer
may 6, Kansas City Star, 6 May 2026
In March, The New York Times published an investigation documenting allegations that Chavez molested and raped girls and raped his longtime co-leader Dolores Huerta.
—Steve Chapman, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
Between 2002 and 2003, Josh molested four of his sisters.
—Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2026
But in October 2014, a revelation shattered that wholesome image for good when an audio recording surfaced of him admitting to molesting three children.
—Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 3 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for molest
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Laura Bauer
may 6, Kansas City Star, 6 May 2026
In March, The New York Times published an investigation documenting allegations that Chavez molested and raped girls and raped his longtime co-leader Dolores Huerta.
—Steve Chapman, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
Between 2002 and 2003, Josh molested four of his sisters.
—Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2026
But in October 2014, a revelation shattered that wholesome image for good when an audio recording surfaced of him admitting to molesting three children.
—Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 3 May 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 10 May. 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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