molestation

UK: /ˌməʊlesˈteɪʃən/ US: /ˌmoʊlɛˈsteɪʃən, ˌmɑlɛ-/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

mo•lest /məˈlɛst/   v. [~ + object]

1. to bother or annoy:
   The bully always molested him when he walked home from school.
2. to make indecent sexual advances to:
   molesting children in a day-care center.

mo•les•ta•tion /ˌmoʊlɛˈsteɪʃən, ˌmɑlɛ-/  n. 

[uncountable] child molestation.

mo•lest•er, n. 

[countable] mandatory prison for child molesters.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

mo•lest  (mə lest′), v.t. 

1. to bother, interfere with, or annoy.
2. to make indecent sexual advances to.
3. to assault sexually.

• Latin molestāre to irk, derivative of molestus irksome; compare mōlēs mass, burden, trouble
• 1325–75; Middle English molesten

mo•les•ta•tion  (mō′le stā′shən, mol′e-), n.  mo•lest′er, n. 
mo•lest′ful, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. harass, harry, trouble, plague, hector, torment. See attack. 

molest, +v.t. 

1. • to assault sexually.