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 emails suggest the teams played a significant role in managing the fallout from the abuse allegations, including helping to remove names from the list of clergy credibly accused of molesting children—actions the teams have denied.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Feb. 2025
But Vana said the change of scenery did little to stop Shipps from molesting her.
—Sara Coello, Charlotte Observer, 3 Feb. 2025
In Discount Meat, released on December 31, this manifests in material that is really out there in terms of appropriateness, like a 13-minute section comparing 9/11 to COVID or a shockingly thorough exploration of whether pedophiles go into having kids with the intention of molesting them one day.
—Jesse David Fox, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2025
Harris has denied molesting minors and was never criminally charged.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for molest 
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David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Feb. 2025
But Vana said the change of scenery did little to stop Shipps from molesting her.
—Sara Coello, Charlotte Observer, 3 Feb. 2025
In Discount Meat, released on December 31, this manifests in material that is really out there in terms of appropriateness, like a 13-minute section comparing 9/11 to COVID or a shockingly thorough exploration of whether pedophiles go into having kids with the intention of molesting them one day.
—Jesse David Fox, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2025
Harris has denied molesting minors and was never criminally charged.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for molest
Dictionary Entries Near molest
Cite this Entry
“Molest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/molest. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.
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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