as in to categorize
disapproving
to unfairly think of or describe (someone or something) as belonging to only a certain category
She likes to perform different types of music because she doesn't want to be pigeonholed.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pigeonhole
Sarah Hostetler,
CNBC,
5 June 2026
Conversations are cut down, some couples are poised to be the favorites, while other contestants get pigeonholed as the villains.
—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
1 June 2026
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
13 Apr. 2025
And to his credit, Leitch escapes that pigeonhole … only to get trapped in another.
—
Will Leitch,
Vulture,
8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pigeonhole
Verb
That way, you’re not pigeonholed into redeeming your rewards exclusively through Delta.
—
Sarah Hostetler,
CNBC,
5 June 2026
Conversations are cut down, some couples are poised to be the favorites, while other contestants get pigeonholed as the villains.
—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
1 June 2026
Noun
Dover is a company made up of a portfolio of different end markets and should not be held to a data center pigeonhole.
—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
13 Apr. 2025
And to his credit, Leitch escapes that pigeonhole … only to get trapped in another.
—
Will Leitch,
Vulture,
8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pigeonhole
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pigeonhole
Verb
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Nearly four-fifths of respondents said that gas prices present some sort of strain, with 34% categorizing it as a major strain and 44% calling it a minor strain.
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History has since categorized Watergate as a defining example of government accountability and congressional oversight of presidential power.
Noun
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During the decades with Cox at the helm of the Braves, the smell of cigar smoke became familiar, wafting from the home dugout on early afternoons at old Fulton County Stadium or from a cubbyhole next to the home dugout at Turner Field.
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How sweet the letters from Gita had been, arriving in his grad-school cubbyhole at Brooklyn Poly!
Verb
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Companies need to have an airtight hold on their own sourcing data—an understanding not only of where the materials and inputs are coming from, but how to substantiate their claims and classify customs entries with precision.
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Gambling disorder is now classified in the same section in the DSM as substance abuse disorders because of the similarities in clinical presentation and treatment.
Noun
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Couches and chairs replace cubicles and sales offices.
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Combined with high gas prices, outrageous dry-cleaning bills, and the hour spent getting ready to look younger, an office job demands four hours of unpaid, stressful labor daily just to reach a cubicle.
Verb
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So why did the filmmakers behind this cinematic reboot of DC‘s female answer to Superman relegate poor Krypto, who was such a big part of making last year’s Superman so much fun, to a mere cameo?
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They were relegated the following campaign, but finished second in the Championship last season to head back to the Premier League.
Noun
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Instead, opt for a more secure purse like this anti-theft messenger bag, which has a zipper at the top, locking compartments, slash-resistant material, and RFID-blocking panels.
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Contributor Will Porter swears by this Amazon find for its expansive underbed compartment and slim frame.
Verb
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To combat bots, Ticketmaster, the primary ticketing platform for many concerts, blocks automated software, identifies and shuts down fake accounts and cancels orders that violate its policies.
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Its unusual structure was first identified by a citizen scientist participating in the RAD@home Astronomy Collaboratory, which allows volunteers to review telescope data and flag unusual features that might otherwise be missed.
Noun
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Since its inception, social media has been a proving ground for tween fashion and identity, offering under-16s a digital canvas to experiment with their style and form online cliques around niche interests.
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Brown noted that the residents have a deep mistrust of the Commission, which is a relatively niche commission appointed by the mayor and City-County Council.
Cite this Entry
“Pigeonhole.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pigeonhole. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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