molest
Americanverb
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to disturb or annoy by malevolent interference
-
to accost or attack, esp with the intention of assaulting sexually
Synonym Usage
See attack.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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molestsimple
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molestssimple
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have molestedperfect
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has molestedperfect
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am molestingprogressive
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are molestingprogressive
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is molestingprogressive
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have been molestingperfect progressive
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has been molestingperfect progressive
Past
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molestedsimple
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had molestedperfect
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was molestingprogressive
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were molestingprogressive
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had been molestingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of molest
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English molesten, from Latin molestāre “to irk,” derivative of molestus “irksome”; compare mōlēs “mass, burden, trouble”
Explanation
To molest someone is to annoy or attack them. Although the word was first used to mean "pester," now it is more typically used to refer to criminal abuse. The verb molest can be used to talk about any kind of persistent harassment, but it most commonly describes an unwanted or aggressive sexual attack. To molest someone in this in way is a very serious criminal assault. The word originally meant simply "to cause trouble or grief," and it comes from the Latin word molestare, "to disturb, trouble, or annoy." It wasn't used to mean "attack sexually" until about 1950.
Vocabulary lists containing molest
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The city is a bird sanctuary and its code says it is illegal to hunt, wound, molest, injure or kill any bird within its limits.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 10, 2021
The Emporia Gazette reports defense attorney Christopher Joseph said Hawkins was sloppy and should have better explained his procedures to the women but he didn’t molest them.
From Washington Times ● Aug. 23, 2019
Two, Wade Robson testified under oath that Michael Jackson didn’t molest him, raising the question, “Was he lying then, or is he lying now?”
From Slate ● Mar. 8, 2019
Around 1993, James and Wade told the authorities that Jackson didn’t molest them; and Wade testified in court on Jackson’s behalf in 2005.
From New York Times ● Feb. 28, 2019
“A big brute like this, he’s worth three times as much. What a bodyguard he will make! No enemy will dare molest you!”
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
It is my observation and belief that a grizzly, if physically able, will attack any living thing that molests it or interferes with its routine activities.
From Time Magazine Archive
No man molests any woman here on any occasion.
From The Eyes of Asia by Rudyard Kipling
The infernal hurricane that never rests carries along the spirits in its rapine; whirling and smiting it molests them.
From Divine Comedy, Norton's Translation, Hell by Charles Eliot Norton
For I will guarantee their good condition: and this very night, I will rid thee of the evil demon that molests her.
From An Essence of the Dusk, 5th Edition by F. W. (Francis William) Bain
My lord Marcus, I fear hurt at no man's hand; also the days of Nero have gone by and Vespasian reigns, who molests us not.
From Pearl-Maiden by Henry Rider Haggard
“I have other people in the office that believe they probably were molested and that they deserve to have some relief.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2024
The four-time Oscar-winning director of "Annie Hall" and other comedies has repeatedly denied the accusation that he molested his adopted daughter, Dylan Farrow, in 1992.
From Reuters ● Jun. 28, 2022
Jackson, who died in 2009, was found not guilty in 2005 of charges alleging he had molested a boy.
From Washington Times ● Mar. 20, 2019
Soon-Yi Previn, the wife of Woody Allen, has spoken publicly for the first time in decades about her early life with adopted mother Mia Farrow, and allegations that Allen molested his daughter Dylan Farrow.
From The Guardian ● Sep. 17, 2018
“To go back to their homes and families, and they would not be molested, if they did nothing more.”
From "Lincoln's Last Days: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever" by Bill O'Reilly
Gregory Daniel Beaumarchais, 43, has been charged with one misdemeanor of annoying or molesting a victim believed to be under 18.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 2, 2022
Michael Jackson was eventually acquitted on four counts of molesting a minor.
From Fox News ● Jan. 3, 2022
By that he meant that Kemp carries none of the baggage of Moore, who was accused of molesting a young woman many years ago, and that Abrams is considerably more liberal than Northam.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 28, 2018
Instead, she said, the tests were intended to evaluate people already convicted of child molesting to determine the likelihood of recidivism.
From Salon ● Dec. 11, 2016
“That is none of your business, you waif. Why aren’t you in school? Kindly stop molesting me. Anyway, I have no change.”
From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole
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