carjacking
noun
car·jack·ing
ˈkär-ˌja-kiŋ 
: 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
Richard Lacayo… Congress made a show of getting tough on crime by making armed carjackings a federal crime.—Janet Novack
Janet Novack
carjack
transitive verb
carjacked; carjacking; carjacks
Several weeks after the shooting, a woman my age was carjacked there.
—Susan Straight
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
Amy Lumet
Examples of carjacking in a Sentence
The police are investigating another carjacking.
Recent Examples on the Web
Curry is also serving a 13-year prison sentence for a separate carjacking.
—Janelle Griffith, NBC news, 26 Mar. 2025
After that, a crash and another carjacking were reported near the 11800 block of Rosser Road in Dallas.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Mar. 2025
In just over a month, Mr. Martin has upended one of the most important U.S. attorney offices in the country, responsible for investigating political violence and corruption, in addition to handling prosecutions of street crime in a city plagued by gun violence and carjackings in recent years.
—Glenn Thrush, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2025
Sudan An advisory against travel to Sudan warns that travelers face the risk of armed conflict and crime, including kidnapping, armed robbery, home invasions, and carjackings.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for carjacking
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Janelle Griffith, NBC news, 26 Mar. 2025
After that, a crash and another carjacking were reported near the 11800 block of Rosser Road in Dallas.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Mar. 2025
In just over a month, Mr. Martin has upended one of the most important U.S. attorney offices in the country, responsible for investigating political violence and corruption, in addition to handling prosecutions of street crime in a city plagued by gun violence and carjackings in recent years.
—Glenn Thrush, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2025
Sudan An advisory against travel to Sudan warns that travelers face the risk of armed conflict and crime, including kidnapping, armed robbery, home invasions, and carjackings.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for carjacking
Cite this Entry
“Carjacking.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carjacking. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
carjacking
noun
car·jack·ing
ˈkär-ˌja-kiŋ
: theft by force or intimidation of an auto that has a driver or passenger present
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