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 Anderson
mo·les·ta·tion
ˌmōˌleˈstāshən 
-ˌləˈ-
plural -s
1
a
archaic
: a cause or state of harassment : vexation
all the molestations of marriage are abundantly recompensed with other comforts—Thomas Fuller
Thomas Fuller
b
: an act or instance of molesting : annoyance, obstruction
liberty to … worship without molestation—William Sewel
William Sewelseas upon which our ships and planes can travel without molestation—U.S. Code
U.S. Code2
a
Scots law
: interference with or troubling another in his possession of land
b
: willful injury inflicted upon another by interference with his user of rights as to person, character, social position, or property
Examples of molest in a Sentence
Verb
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
Seamus Bozeman, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
In the memoir, Cox writes that she was molested by a babysitter, the son of her mom’s friend.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 9 June 2026
Prior to the raid, 13-year-old Gavin Arvizo accused Jackson of molesting him.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 9 June 2026
According to the National Park Service, a pet running at large and molesting wildlife may be put down if necessary for public safety or wildlife protection.
—Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for molest
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Verb
An Oroville man and accused cult leader was sentenced to 225 years in prison Tuesday for molesting four young girls and raping two women from the group, authorities said.
—Seamus Bozeman, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
In the memoir, Cox writes that she was molested by a babysitter, the son of her mom’s friend.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 9 June 2026
Prior to the raid, 13-year-old Gavin Arvizo accused Jackson of molesting him.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 9 June 2026
According to the National Park Service, a pet running at large and molesting wildlife may be put down if necessary for public safety or wildlife protection.
—Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 8 June 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 17 Jun. 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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