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 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
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
The relatives of a woman whose dead body was allegedly molested by a police officer will receive $250,000 to end their lawsuit against the city, the Los Angeles City Council decided Wednesday.
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2024
According to the District Attorney’s Office, Munoz was convicted of molesting a 12-year-old girl and a 2-year-old girl sometime between 1988 and 1992, and attempted to assault three other victims.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 May 2024
In October 2022, a jury concluded Spacey did not molest Rapp while both were relatively unknown actors in Broadway plays in the 1980s.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 May 2024
Federal authorities also said in December that another Celebrity crew member admitted to molesting children at an onboard youth center aboard Celebrity Silhouette.
—Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 2 May 2024
The radiologist’s greatest delusions revolved around the risk of his children being kidnapped and molested, the psychologist added.
—Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 2 May 2024
In 2018, a judge in Ingham County, Michigan, sentenced Nassar to 40 to 175 years in prison for molesting young girls under the guise of treatment.
—Sarah Fitzpatrick, NBC News, 23 Apr. 2024
The accusations According to the sheriff’s office, Chitty plied the 15-year-old girl with alcohol and molested her while she was passed out March 3 on a couch inside his church, First Baptist, 200 62nd St. in the Marathon.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2024
After his arrest March 20, the suspect was booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail on suspicion of annoying or molesting a minor.
—Nollyanne Delacruz, The Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2024
David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2024
According to the District Attorney’s Office, Munoz was convicted of molesting a 12-year-old girl and a 2-year-old girl sometime between 1988 and 1992, and attempted to assault three other victims.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 May 2024
In October 2022, a jury concluded Spacey did not molest Rapp while both were relatively unknown actors in Broadway plays in the 1980s.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 May 2024
Federal authorities also said in December that another Celebrity crew member admitted to molesting children at an onboard youth center aboard Celebrity Silhouette.
—Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 2 May 2024
The radiologist’s greatest delusions revolved around the risk of his children being kidnapped and molested, the psychologist added.
—Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 2 May 2024
In 2018, a judge in Ingham County, Michigan, sentenced Nassar to 40 to 175 years in prison for molesting young girls under the guise of treatment.
—Sarah Fitzpatrick, NBC News, 23 Apr. 2024
The accusations According to the sheriff’s office, Chitty plied the 15-year-old girl with alcohol and molested her while she was passed out March 3 on a couch inside his church, First Baptist, 200 62nd St. in the Marathon.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2024
After his arrest March 20, the suspect was booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail on suspicion of annoying or molesting a minor.
—Nollyanne Delacruz, The Mercury News, 25 Mar. 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.
Dictionary Entries Near molest
Cite this Entry
“Molest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/molest. Accessed 15 May. 2024.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share