molest

[ muh-lest ]
See synonyms for: molestmolestation on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  1. to make indecent sexual advances to.

  2. to assault sexually.

  1. Older Use. to bother, interfere with, or annoy.

Origin of molest

1
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English molesten, from Latin molestāre “to irk,” derivative of molestus “irksome”; compare mōlēs “mass, burden, trouble”

synonym study For molest

3. See attack.

Other words for molest

Other words from molest

  • mo·les·ta·tion [moh-le-stey-shuhn, mol-e-], /ˌmoʊ lɛˈsteɪ ʃən, ˌmɒl ɛ-/, noun
  • mo·lest·er, noun
  • mo·lest·ful, adjective
  • un·mo·lest·ed, adjective
  • un·mo·lest·ing, adjective

Words Nearby molest

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use molest in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for molest

molest

/ (məˈlɛst) /


verb(tr)
  1. to disturb or annoy by malevolent interference

  2. to accost or attack, esp with the intention of assaulting sexually

Origin of molest

1
C14: from Latin molestāre to annoy, from molestus troublesome, from mōlēs mass

Derived forms of molest

  • molestation (ˌməʊlɛˈsteɪʃən), noun
  • molester, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012