Definition of molest
transitive verb
1 : to annoy, disturb, or persecute especially with hostile intent or injurious effect The zookeeper warned the visitors not to molest the animals.
2 : to make annoying sexual advances to; especially : to force physical and usually sexual contact on He was sent to prison for molesting children.
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Examples of molest in a Sentence
He was sent to jail for molesting children.
It was illegal to molest, capture, or kill any of the animals in the park.
Recent Examples of molest from the Web
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A Charles County, Md., former school aide and track coach is facing multiple charges after being accused of molesting at least seven male students, the Sheriff’s Office confirmed.
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A man accused of molesting an underage foreign-exchange student killed himself Tuesday, days after being released from a Florida jail.
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He was later arrested and jailed on several charges including battery and annoying or molesting a child.
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The Bronze Fonz remains an extremely popular stop for locals and tourists, who can be seen hugging, molesting and climbing on the life-size statue every day in Milwaukee.
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Hemmerle's additional charges come seven months after he was convicted in Meade County of sexually molesting a boy in the 1970s at the same location, Camp Tall Trees at Otter Creek Park, which the Archdiocese of Louisville ran until 2002.
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Chicago Police issued a Community Alert after a man molested a female victim on a South Side Green Line platform on Tuesday, June 20, 2017.
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Police first learned of the accusations against Smith in 2013, when the 3-year-old girl told relatives Smith had been molesting her.
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One former MK recalled going on a trip with Ketcham and blacking out, leading her to wonder whether she had been drugged and molested.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'molest.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of molest
Middle English, from Anglo-French molester, from Latin molestare, from molestus burdensome, annoying; akin to Latin moles mass
Other Legal Terms
MOLEST Defined for English Language Learners
molest
playDefinition of molest for English Language Learners
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: to harm (someone) through sexual contact : to touch (someone) in a sexual and improper way
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: to bother or annoy (someone or something)
MOLEST Defined for Kids
molest
playDefinition of molest for Students
molested
;molesting
: to disturb or injure by interfering
Law Dictionary
molest
playLegal Definition of molest
1 : to annoy, disturb, or persecute especially with hostile intent or injurious effect
2 : to make annoying sexual advances to; specifically : to force physical and usually sexual contact on (as a child)
molester
nounLearn More about molest
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Spanish Central: Translation of molest Nglish: Translation of molest for Spanish speakers
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