noun
molestation
moh-leh-STAY-shuhn/ˌməʊleˈsteɪʃn/
Abusive sexual contact, especially with a child.
The woman resists the man’s unwanted sexual contact in a scene of molestation.
Etymology
The action noun built on molestare originally meant annoying or harassing someone. Its selected sexual sense follows the verb’s narrowing from general disturbance to sexual assault or abuse.
In context
sexual molestation being physically abused dr romar johnson who counsels african-american youth
More examples
- The organization introduced safeguards against molestation.
- The survivor spoke about recovering after molestation.
- The report criticized officials who ignored complaints of molestation.
Forms
molestation
Similar words
- sexual abuse
- Sexual abuse is the broader term; molestation commonly names abusive sexual touching.
- assault
- Assault includes various attacks; molestation here specifically concerns sexual abuse.