molest
[verb]
Synonyms:
- annoy, badger, beset, bother, disturb, harass, persecute, pester, plague, torment, worry
- abuse, attack, harm, hurt, ill-treat, interfere with, maltreat

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Related Words: annoy, badger, bother, irk, pester, pother, tease, bedevil, beset, devil, trouble, harass, harry, vex

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

mo‧lest /məˈlest/ verb [transitive]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: molester, from Latin molestare, from molestus 'heavy, annoying', from moles 'mass']

1. to attack or harm someone, especially a child, by touching them in a sexual way or by trying to have sex with them Synonym : abuse:
men who molest young boys

2. old-fashioned to attack and physically harm someone:
a dog that was molesting sheep
—molester noun [countable]
—molestation /ˌməʊleˈsteɪʃən $ ˌmoʊ-/ noun [uncountable]:
sexual molestation
⇒ child molester

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲