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
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 
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.
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
Dictionary Entries Near molest
Cite this Entry
“Molest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/molest. Accessed 21 Dec. 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