English Explanatory Dictionary

molest

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To sexually assault or sexually harass.
  2. To annoy, trouble, or afflict.
  3. To disturb or tamper with.

Pronunciation

/məˈlɛst/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-molest.wav

Word forms

molest molests molesting molested

Etymology

From Middle English molesten, from Old French molester, from Latin molestō (“to trouble, annoy, molest”), from molestus (“troublesome”), from moles (“a burden, difficulty, labor, trouble”); see mole.

Synonyms

come on to diddle touch bother disturb aggravate annoy nettle rankle ruffle sting antagonize disgruntle botherate bug get grate burn up bedevil cheese off devil exasperate frustrate get up grotch hack off hassle irk irritate jazz molest mommick nark nerve pee off peeve persecute pique piss off provoke rile rile up roil storm test someone's patience tick off trouble try one's patience vex wind up Idioms: boil someone's piss chap someone's hide get on someone's nerves get on someone's tits get on someone's wick get someone's back up get someone's dander up get someone's goat get someone's Irish up

Related words

molestation

Derived words

molestability molestable molestache molestee molester molestful unmolested unmolesting
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