verb
-
to disturb or annoy by malevolent interference
-
to accost or attack, esp with the intention of assaulting sexually
Related Words
See attack.
Other Word Forms
- molestation noun
- molester noun
- molestful adjective
- unmolested adjective
- unmolesting adjective
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”
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.
The dad is not violent, the mom is not an alcoholic, he’s not been abused or molested.
From Los Angeles Times
George Gascón announced he recommends they be resentenced after new evidence that they had been molested by their father came to light, which could make them eligible for parole.
From Los Angeles Times
“We have people in the office that strongly believe the Menendez brothers should stay in prison the rest of their lives and don’t believe they were molested,” he said.
From Los Angeles Times
“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
George Gascón said on Thursday his office would review what he described as new evidence that the brothers were molested, a move that could lead to their resentencing.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
