# molest

> English word · Verb · IPA /məˈlɛst/ · frequency rank #40,346

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

## 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.

## Easily confused with
- **most** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/molest-vs-most)
- **moves** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/molest-vs-moves)
- **Moses** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/molest-vs-moses)
- **Myles** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/molest-vs-myles)
- **mules** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/molest-vs-mules)
- **Monet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/molest-vs-monet)
- **mores** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/molest-vs-mores)
- **moment** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/molest-vs-moment)
- **molester** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/molest-vs-molester)
- **mole** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mole-vs-molest)
- **miles** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/miles-vs-molest)
- **males** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/males-vs-molest)
- **moist** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/moist-vs-molest)
- **modest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/modest-vs-molest)
- **modesty** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/modesty-vs-molest)
- **Modesto** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/modesto-vs-molest)

## Common misspellings (9)
`mloest`, `mmolest`, `moelst`, `molesst`, `molestt`, `molets`, `mollest`, `molset`, `omlest`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/molest