molesting
Criminally bothering someone
Molesting means interfering with or disturbing someone, often with harmful intent.
The word once applied broadly to any pestering or annoying behavior: The flies were molesting the horses.
Today it predominantly refers to sexual abuse, especially of children: He was convicted of molesting a minor.
The shift has been so complete that innocent uses now sound jarring.
Aggressive act against another
- victimOne harmed by another
- perpetratorOne who commits wrongdoing
- nonconsensualWithout voluntary agreement
- violationBreaking of rules
force · battery · aggression · criminal · assailant · resist · struggle · harm
One harmed by another
- survivorOne still alive after
- traumaLasting psychological wound
- predatorOrganism that consumes others
- groomingSelf-care for appearance
exploitation · violation · harm · powerlessness · manipulation · shame · guilt · fear
Persistent unwanted attention
- unwelcomeNot wanted here
- intrusiveInvading others' privacy
- persistentContinuing despite difficulty
- bothersomeCausing mild annoyance
intimidation · threatening · inappropriate · unwanted · boundary violation · discomfort · targeting · repeated
attack
Aggressive act against another
- victimOne harmed by another
- perpetratorOne who commits wrongdoing
- nonconsensualWithout voluntary agreement
violation · force · battery · aggression · criminal · assailant · resist · struggle · harm · injury
victim
One harmed by another
grooming · exploitation · violation · harm · powerlessness · manipulation · shame · guilt · fear · healing
pestering
Persistent unwanted attention
- unwelcomeNot wanted here
- intrusiveInvading others' privacy
- persistentContinuing despite difficulty
bothersome · intimidation · threatening · inappropriate · unwanted · boundary violation · discomfort · targeting · repeated · offensive
molestingprotecting
Keeping from harm
safeguarding · defending · shielding · guarding · nurturing
molestingrespecting
About; on the topic
honoring · cherishing · comforting · supporting · consoling
molest, molested, molester, molestation, molests, molesters, unmolested, molestations