Synonyms of carjackingnext
: the theft of an automobile from its driver by force or intimidation
In the cities and suburbs, where muggings and carjackings are a daily concern, voters are wondering how many of the nation's 200 million guns are pointed at them.Richard Lacayo
… Congress made a show of getting tough on crime by making armed carjackings a federal crime.Janet Novack
carjack transitive verb
carjacked; carjacking; carjacks
Several weeks after the shooting, a woman my age was carjacked there. Susan Straight
carjacker noun
plural carjackers
If you're confronted by a carjacker, be cooperative. The big picture: It's your car versus your life. Amy Lumet

Examples of carjacking in a Sentence

The police are investigating another carjacking.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Within days of the early August carjacking, a more aggressive plan was announced, led in part by deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller. Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 3 July 2026 Police tracked down his location prior to the carjacking and entered the home to find both Harris and Payne had been shot in the head, according to the statement. Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026 Jett was 16 at the time, and police zeroed in on him as a suspect in an armed carjacking near Druid Hill Park in West Baltimore. Mike Hellgren, CBS News, 1 July 2026 For years, Memphis, whose population exceeds 600,000, has dealt with high violent crime, including assaults, carjackings and homicides. Jack Brook, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for carjacking

Word History

Etymology

car + (hi)jack + -ing entry 1

First Known Use

1991, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of carjacking was in 1991

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Cite this Entry

“Carjacking.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carjacking. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

Legal Definition

carjacking

noun
: theft by force or intimidation of an auto that has a driver or passenger present

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