molest
molest Lexical Profile
molest Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To assault or abuse (a person, especially a child) sexually.
"The suspect was arrested and charged after several witnesses came forward to report the crime."
To pester, harass, or interfere with in a hostile or injurious manner (now chiefly used in formal, legal, or wildlife protection contexts).
"Park signs strictly warn visitors not to feed, disturb, or molest the nesting sea turtles."
Word Nuance & Usage
In contemporary English, 'molest' almost exclusively implies sexual abuse or assault; its older meaning of 'to pester, bother, or interfere with' is now restricted to formal legal contexts or wildlife regulations (e.g., 'do not molest the animals') and is a well-known false friend with Spanish 'molestar' (to bother).
• Rhymes for molest
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in Middle English from Old French 'molester', from Latin 'molestare' (to trouble, annoy), derived from 'molestus' (troublesome, grievous), which is related to 'moles' (burden, heavy mass).