molestation
Americannoun
-
touching a nonconsenting person, especially a child, in a sexual manner.
He was arrested on charges of lewd and lascivious molestation and child abuse.
-
an act or instance of interference with or violence against someone.
Under the terms of the citadel’s surrender, the Persians were allowed to pass without molestation through the midst of the Roman army.
Etymology
Origin of molestation
First recorded in 1600–10; molest ( def. ) + -ation ( def. )
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.
Supreme Court reversed the state child molestation convictions of McGirt because he is Native American and the crime occurred on a tribal reservation that was never disestablished by Congress.
From Seattle Times • Jun. 21, 2023
Like Jackson, who was acquitted in 2005 of child molestation, Brown is a divisive figure.
From Salon • Nov. 21, 2022
Similarly, while I understand that Dylan Farrow has claimed that Woody Allen molested her as a child, Allen has always denied the molestation allegation and he was never charged with that crime after extensive investigation.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2020
Winfrey held a wide-ranging live interview with Jackson in February 1993, about six months before allegations of child molestation surfaced that August.
From Fox News • Jan. 29, 2020
He let Johnny have his rig and also wrote him a pass which would prevent any molestation from the Whig mobs and told Cilia to get a similar pass from the British soldiers.
From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes
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.
