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
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
Brendan Le, People.com, 18 June 2025
For years it’s been hard to pigeonhole Williams as a football player.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pigeonhole
Verb
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
Noun
Amid her burgeoning music career, Cyrus was still pigeonholed as a Disney starlet.
—Brendan Le, People.com, 18 June 2025
For years it’s been hard to pigeonhole Williams as a football player.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pigeonhole
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pigeonhole
Verb
-
Listening For Understanding, Not Agreement One of the biggest barriers to effective listening is our tendency to evaluate what's being said—to mentally categorize it as right or wrong, useful or irrelevant, aligned with our views or opposed to them.—
Heather Heefner,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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On August 1, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration categorized the recall as Class II.—
Matt Cannon,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The narrow, shaded Via Santa Maria della Pietà is Neapolitan-esque in its air of ancient mystery, with big arched doorways to houses and glimpses into tiny barber shops and a cubbyhole tattoo parlor.—
Rebecca Ann Hughes,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
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At the top of the Guggenheim’s ramp, the upper level is dedicated to a sprawling installation of open cubic shelves that look like highly refined cubbyholes.—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
30 May 2025
Verb
-
The lockbox is fireproof and waterproof and Underwriters Laboratory (UL) classified.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Aug. 2025
-
The best way to protect yourself from poor air quality is to stay indoors, especially when the Air Quality Index reaches above 101, which is classified as unhealthy for sensitive groups, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.—
Jack Albright,
jsonline.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
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In their years together, Jones would usually grab a coffee in the team facility between 5 and 6 a.m., walk over from the offensive line room and sit with Stretch in his cubicle next to Vrabel’s office.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
7 Aug. 2025
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But for those not keen on uprooting their lives just to spend eight hours a day in a cubicle, London still offers a lifeline.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
23 July 2025
Verb
-
Although Lollapalooza has long booked electronic artists, they’re typically relegated to Perry’s stage, including headliners.—
Althea Legaspi,
Rolling Stone,
3 Aug. 2025
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Unlike other streaming platforms, new Neon film releases on Hulu aren’t relegated to a specific day.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
1 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
After the flight attendant turned to help another passenger, the woman reopened the compartment and took out the poster's bag, placing it in the aisle, so that her own carry-on would fit.—
Michael Nied,
People.com,
2 Aug. 2025
-
The best carry-on suitcases hold all of your vacation essentials and easily fit in the overhead compartment.—
Jessica Kasparian,
SELF,
1 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The only clue that authorities had to identify the deceased was a keychain that included shopper rewards cards from Winn-Dixie and CVS.—
Charmaine Patterson,
People.com,
16 Aug. 2025
-
The extent of his wounds was unknown, and officers were working to identify a suspect.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Far from being a niche, the digital-first world of esports has become a mainstream, global force.—
Jennifer Acree,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
-
Over the course of her last three films, however, Ganatra has hit upon something of a compelling niche, a kind of old-fashioned comedy about women trying to make their way through the world, often coming up against generational mishaps and misunderstandings, and emerging all the better for it.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pigeonhole.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pigeonhole. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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