molest
C1Formal (for primary meaning), Archaic/formal (for secondary meaning of pestering)
Definition
Meaning
To subject someone to unwanted and harmful sexual interference or assault.
In dated or formal contexts, can mean to pester, harass, or annoy someone persistently.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The primary modern meaning is overwhelmingly associated with sexual crimes against children or adults. The older, broader sense of 'to annoy' is now rare, considered archaic or literary, and risks dangerous misunderstanding if used.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. The archaic 'pester' sense is slightly more likely to be encountered in older British literary texts but is equally obsolete in both varieties.
Connotations
Extremely serious criminal and violent connotations in both dialects. The word itself carries a heavy emotional weight.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday conversation due to its severity, but standard in legal, police, and journalistic contexts when reporting such crimes.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] molest [Object] (person/animal)be molested by [Agent]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(None specific; the word is itself a direct term for a criminal act)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in psychology, criminology, sociology, and legal studies to describe specific criminal acts.
Everyday
Used with extreme gravity, typically in news reports or discussions of crime. Not for casual conversation.
Technical
A precise legal term in criminal law (e.g., 'lewd molestation').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The man was convicted for attempting to molest a teenage girl.
- In the Dickens novel, the character felt molested by creditors at his door.
American English
- He was arrested on charges that he molested a child.
- The formal complaint stated the official's questions molested the witness's privacy. (archaic)
adverb
British English
- (Not standard.)
American English
- (Not standard.)
adjective
British English
- (The adjective 'molesting' is not standard; 'molestful' is obsolete.)
American English
- (The adjective 'molesting' is not standard; the noun 'molestation' is used.)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The news reported a man who was arrested for molesting someone.
- It is a terrible crime to molest a child or an animal.
- The evidence proved he had sexually molested the victim on multiple occasions.
- The lawyer argued that the aggressive questioning molested the defendant's right to a fair trial. (archaic/literary)
- The psychological study focused on the long-term trauma experienced by those molested in childhood.
- The poet wrote of memories that molested his peace, using the term in its now-dated sense.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'MOLEST' sounds serious and heavy. Break it as 'MO(re) LEST' – as in 'lest something more terrible happen' – to associate it with severe harm.
Conceptual Metaphor
CRIME IS A VIOLATION (of body, trust, and safety).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- The Russian word 'доставать' or 'надоедать' (to pester/annoy) is a FALSE FRIEND. Using 'molest' to mean 'annoy' is a severe and dangerous error.
- The correct translation for the primary meaning is 'совершать развратные действия', 'приставать (сексуально)'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to mean 'bother' or 'annoy' in a trivial context (e.g., 'The flies molested me at the picnic').
- Confusing it with 'molester' (noun) for the perpetrator.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the ONLY correct modern use of 'molest'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Historically, yes, but this usage is now archaic and dangerously misleading. In any modern context, it will be understood as sexual assault. Use 'bother', 'pester', or 'harass' instead.
'Molest' often refers to sexual abuse or assault that does not necessarily involve rape (penetration), particularly when involving children. 'Rape' is a specific legal term for forced sexual intercourse. Both are severe crimes.
Yes, the noun is 'molestation' (e.g., 'charges of sexual molestation'). The person who commits the act is a 'molester'.
Because it labels a specific, violent crime that causes profound psychological and physical harm. Its semantic field is restricted almost entirely to criminal law and trauma discourse, carrying immense social and emotional weight.