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.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of pigeonhole
Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 8 Apr. 2025
Samuels said the biggest challenges in the coming years will be to convince advertisers not to pigeonhole the company as a niche buy, especially given the Trump administration’s shameless bullying of corporate America on any activities focused on diversity, civil rights or equity considerations.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 24 Apr. 2025
Will Leitch, Vulture, 24 June 2024
And even those films starring endlessly reincarnating supernatural psycho slashers chasing nubile coeds aren’t so simple to pigeonhole politically.
—David Colman, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for pigeonhole
Verb
This versatility makes checkerboard easier to translate into different aesthetics, allowing anyone to try the trend without feeling pigeonholed.
—Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 8 Apr. 2025
Samuels said the biggest challenges in the coming years will be to convince advertisers not to pigeonhole the company as a niche buy, especially given the Trump administration’s shameless bullying of corporate America on any activities focused on diversity, civil rights or equity considerations.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 24 Apr. 2025
Noun
And to his credit, Leitch escapes that pigeonhole … only to get trapped in another.
—Will Leitch, Vulture, 24 June 2024
And even those films starring endlessly reincarnating supernatural psycho slashers chasing nubile coeds aren’t so simple to pigeonhole politically.
—David Colman, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for pigeonhole
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pigeonhole
Verb
-
Mormon Wives star Leavitt categorizes her attitude toward beauty as somewhere in the middle on the Utah scale.—
Anneke Knot,
Glamour,
14 May 2025
-
It was initially categorized as a 4-alarm fire before being upgraded to a 7-alarm fire later in the evening, according to social media statements from BCFD.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
13 May 2025
Noun
-
Having moved nearly four years ago from a 15,000-square-foot warehouse in Williamsburg to a street-level cubbyhole on the side of 30 Rock, Rough Trade finally has some room to spread out in the Art Deco complex.—
Matthew Sedacca,
Curbed,
11 Apr. 2025
-
Image Image The center is visible from the street through a glass entrance opening to a wide corridor and wall of custom shelving with cubbyholes, pegboards and stools designed by the architect Koray Duman.—
Hilarie M. Sheets,
New York Times,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Our writers picked a few obvious candidates (anytime Lamar Jackson-Patrick Mahomes clash in any year classifies as must-see).—
Dan Pompei,
New York Times,
19 May 2025
-
Based on double-occupancy stateroom bookings, groups typically need to have a minimum of five to eight cabins to be classified as a group.—
Linnea Bailey,
Southern Living,
18 May 2025
Noun
-
The suite also had a little cubby and discreet shelves around the cubicle to store my personal things.—
Taylor McIntyre,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Apr. 2025
-
An office building in the Financial District has ditched cubicles and shed most of its original facade, making way for more than 1,000 new rental apartments and splashy amenities.—
Matt Yan,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
At the time of writing, United are 16th, their lowest ebb since they were last relegated in 1974.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
14 May 2025
-
But the pyramid isn’t an architectural form that’s relegated to history!—
Ashley Gardini,
JSTOR Daily,
13 May 2025
Noun
-
This huge cat tree features three top perches, hammocks, hidden compartments for your cats to play in and a scratching post.—
Christopher Murray
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
13 May 2025
-
Often, a vehicle won’t start or fails to operate properly because mice have gnawed through wires in the engine compartment.—
Jim Gorzelany,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2025
Verb
-
Cosmos 482 separated into four pieces, two of which remained in Earth's low orbit and decayed within 48 hours, and the other two pieces went into a higher orbit.—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
11 May 2025
-
Let the chicken cool completely before storing it in the fridge, and separate the meat from the bones for easier reheating.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
10 May 2025
Noun
-
Those wanting to experiment with the potential for business transformation are likely to want to look at building their own agents to fit niche use cases.—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2025
-
The fact that the bottle is still sealed—and may contain over 100-year-old product—could significantly increase its value, particularly among niche collectors.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pigeonhole.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pigeonhole. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share