as in to classify
to arrange or assign according to type
we shouldn't compartmentalize the students into such restrictive categories as scholar and athlete, which are not mutually exclusive
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Recent Examples of compartmentalize
In situations of more extreme mental health issues, teens may not have the tools to navigate difficult feelings and instead, repress and compartmentalize their feelings as a way to cope.
—
Staff Author, Parents, 9 Mar. 2026
The premise isn’t without its intriguing ideas, too, like how dating-app technology has had a broader compartmentalizing effect on monogamous relationships in general.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2026
De-compartmentalize the rooms with a made-to-measure module.
—Nicolas Milon, Architectural Digest, 24 Feb. 2026
For a film such a this to arrive in a FIFA World Cup year is a stark reminder of the entwinement between soccer and corruption, and De Pauw’s performance as Mayor Dumont — a man inclined to compartmentalize and pass the buck — is wonderfully pathetic.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for compartmentalize
Staff Author, Parents, 9 Mar. 2026
The premise isn’t without its intriguing ideas, too, like how dating-app technology has had a broader compartmentalizing effect on monogamous relationships in general.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2026
De-compartmentalize the rooms with a made-to-measure module.
—Nicolas Milon, Architectural Digest, 24 Feb. 2026
For a film such a this to arrive in a FIFA World Cup year is a stark reminder of the entwinement between soccer and corruption, and De Pauw’s performance as Mayor Dumont — a man inclined to compartmentalize and pass the buck — is wonderfully pathetic.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for compartmentalize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compartmentalize
Verb
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The fire is classified as accidental.—
Pioneer Press,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
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By classifying sports betting as a public health issue and imposing rigid federal standards, the proposal also significantly limits the autonomy of the states, which have been primarily responsible for the legalization and regulation of this sector since 2018.—
Cláudia Nunes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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He’s tied for 10th in the NBA in blocks, owns the sixth-best individual defensive rating and ranks fifth in net rating, trailing a select group that includes Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
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Back in the day, only high ranking officers could ascend the staircase.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But eventually athleisure began to fade (as all trends do), and soon enough biker shorts were once again relegated to yoga studios and barre classes.—
Kelsey Stiegman,
Glamour,
8 Apr. 2026
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While marketing used to be relegated almost exclusively to isolated campaigns and launch windows, the rapid and constant pace of today’s media has necessitated the development and use of new systems.—
Ernest Sturm,
Variety,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Fathoms is a frictionless listen, but there’s a stubborn sense of craft to it, and that’s what distinguishes it from the streaming-era onslaught of music with little purpose except to be pleasant.—
Daniel Bromfield,
Pitchfork,
6 Apr. 2026
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Yet that requires taking care to distinguish between the regime and its civilians, and to avoid collateral damage.—
Benjamin Wallace-Wells,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The lawsuit claims that Missouri lawmakers used no rational basis to categorize which counties qualified for a 5% cap, a freeze or neither.—
Jenna Ebbers,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2026
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There is a long history of women's pain being dismissed by doctors, incorrectly categorized as period pain or rooted in psychological distress.—
Madeline Mitchell,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Compartmentalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compartmentalize. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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