molest

[muh-lest]

verb (used with object)

1. to make indecent sexual advances to.

2. to assault sexually.

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

   Synonyms: torment, hector, plague, trouble, harry, harass

molest

/ ˌməʊlɛˈsteɪʃən, məˈlɛst /

verb

1. to disturb or annoy by malevolent interference

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

Other Word Forms

• molestation noun
• molester noun
• molestful adjective
• unmolested adjective
• unmolesting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of molest¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of molest¹

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

Synonym Study

See attack.

Example Sentences

Many victims have told The Times that they suffered egregious abuse decades ago at the hands of probation staff, who they said would molest them and threaten them with solitary confinement if they told higher-ups.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Tammy Rogers, 56, hired the Slater firm in 2022 to sue after a staff member at MacLaren Children’s Center, a county-run children’s facility now infamous for abuse, allegedly molested her when she was about 9.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

During that period Finegan, who taught and worked at the college, molested him under the guise of providing pastoral care, it was claimed.

Read more on BBC

More than 200 children were believed to have been molested by the former city employee.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"I spent six months in prison, I was beaten, molested, left for dead. After all those trials, it's logical that people don't mess with me."

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• abuse 
• frighten 
• harass 
• persecute 
• scare 
• tease 
• terrify 
• torment