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
What to know about Joseph, Kendra Duggar arrests On March 17, Duggar 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, 3 Apr. 2026
Antonio Burton, 37, was originally charged with child molesting when the defendant is at least 21 years old, a Level 1 felony, and child molesting, fondling or touching a child under 14, a Level 4 felony.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
Joseph is charged with two counts of lewd and lascivious behavior in Florida after being accused of molesting a 9-year-old girl during a 2020 vacation to Panama City Beach.
—Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026
The third oldest of Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar’s 10 sons — the family also includes nine daughters — was charged upon arrest with lewd and lascivious behavior molesting a victim under 12 and lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person over 18.
—Assistant Editor, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for molest
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Melina Khan, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
Antonio Burton, 37, was originally charged with child molesting when the defendant is at least 21 years old, a Level 1 felony, and child molesting, fondling or touching a child under 14, a Level 4 felony.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
Joseph is charged with two counts of lewd and lascivious behavior in Florida after being accused of molesting a 9-year-old girl during a 2020 vacation to Panama City Beach.
—Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026
The third oldest of Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar’s 10 sons — the family also includes nine daughters — was charged upon arrest with lewd and lascivious behavior molesting a victim under 12 and lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person over 18.
—Assistant Editor, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 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 9 Apr. 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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Merriam-Webster unabridged
