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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Defense calls Allen's sister and daughter, shows more prison videos in bid to discredit confessions Jurors heard from Allen's half-sister and daughter, each of whom testified briefly that neither of them were ever molested by Allen. Ron Wilkins, The Indianapolis Star, 4 Nov. 2024 The show, notably, was inspired by a TikTok movement where users touted the new evidence that suggested José Menendez had also molested a member of the 1980s boy band Menudo. Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Oct. 2024 And then earlier this month, the doctor was hit with 17 new felony charges of allegedly videotaping himself molesting a 6-year-old child on at least six occasions in 2023 and this year. Corky Siemaszko, NBC News, 31 Oct. 2024 The new evidence includes allegations made public last year that their father also molested Roy Rossello, a former member of the Puerto Rican boy band Menudo, in the 1980s, and a letter that Erik Menendez wrote to his cousin, Andy Cano, that surfaced in 2015, years after the latter's death. Louis Casiano, Fox News, 25 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for molest 

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 17 Dec. 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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