MOLEST

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does molest mean? 

• MOLEST (verb)
  The verb MOLEST has 2 senses:

1. harass or assault sexually; make indecent advances to

2. annoy continually or chronically

  Familiarity information: MOLEST used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MOLEST (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they molest    ... he / she / it molests   
Past simple: molested   
Past participle: molested   
-ing form: molesting   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Harass or assault sexually; make indecent advances to

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "molest" is one way to...):

assail; assault; attack; set on (attack someone physically or emotionally)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

molestation (the act of subjecting someone to unwanted or improper sexual advances or activity (especially women or children))

Sense 2

Meaning:

Annoy continually or chronically

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

beset; chevvy; chevy; chivvy; chivy; harass; harry; hassle; molest; plague; provoke

Context example:

This man harasses his female co-workers

Hypernyms (to "molest" is one way to...):

annoy; bother; chafe; devil; get at; get to; gravel; irritate; nark; nettle; rag; rile; vex (cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "molest"):

goad; needle (annoy or provoke, as by constant criticism)

bedevil; crucify; dun; frustrate; rag; torment (treat cruelly)

haze (harass by imposing humiliating or painful tasks, as in military institutions)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sentence example:

Sam cannot molest Sue

Derivation:

molestation (the act of tormenting by continued persistent attacks and criticism)

 Context examples 

There is some deep intrigue going on round that little woman, and it is our duty to see that no one molests her upon that last journey.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I cannot imagine who they were or why they should molest us.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Who are these two men Mr. Blessington, and why do they wish to molest you?

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It has always been at night-time that I have been molested or threatened, or in some way in danger or in fear.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

The word went up and down the valley, and men saw to it that their dogs did not molest the Fighting Wolf.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

“But if I were not, is that reason why you should molest me on the king's ground?”

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Already I had made visible progress: that very morning I had reached the head of my class; Miss Miller had praised me warmly; Miss Temple had smiled approbation; she had promised to teach me drawing, and to let me learn French, if I continued to make similar improvement two months longer: and then I was well received by my fellow-pupils; treated as an equal by those of my own age, and not molested by any; now, here I lay again crushed and trodden on; and could I ever rise more?

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

He always kept his distance and did not molest me in any way, but still it certainly was very odd.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

A dozen convicts, who descended with their pistols in search of him, found him with a match-box in his hand seated beside an open powder barrel, which was one of a hundred carried on board, and swearing that he would blow all hands up if he were in any way molested.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I told you what I’d do if you molested her, and, by the Lord!

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)