as in categorized
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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Recent Examples of pigeonholed
Hudson described the frustration of being pigeonholed by an industry that struggled to see her outside the genre.
—
Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 24 Feb. 2026
Seattle’s assimilation of so many players that had previously been underestimated or counted out or pigeonholed, though — starting with former Jets first-round quarterback Sam Darnold — into such a dominant whole is rare.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 9 Feb. 2026
But Burns doesn’t want to be pigeonholed into that description.
—Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 15 Jan. 2026
Women, on the other hand, especially those in the limelight, are frequently pigeonholed into being the face of the brand or the marketing tool.
—Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 29 Dec. 2025
There is a part of me that didn’t want to be pigeonholed.
—Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 14 Nov. 2025
That’s hardly the only time Davis has been pigeonholed in her career.
—Galina Espinoza, Flow Space, 10 Sep. 2025
After making Dances With Wolves, Greene told his agents to pursue other types of projects to ensure he wasn’t pigeonholed as a performer.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 3 Sep. 2025
But Gaga has also been savvy enough not to be pigeonholed as just the avant-garde lady, though, opting for high elegance depending on the event.
—EW.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 24 Feb. 2026
Seattle’s assimilation of so many players that had previously been underestimated or counted out or pigeonholed, though — starting with former Jets first-round quarterback Sam Darnold — into such a dominant whole is rare.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 9 Feb. 2026
But Burns doesn’t want to be pigeonholed into that description.
—Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 15 Jan. 2026
Women, on the other hand, especially those in the limelight, are frequently pigeonholed into being the face of the brand or the marketing tool.
—Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 29 Dec. 2025
There is a part of me that didn’t want to be pigeonholed.
—Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 14 Nov. 2025
That’s hardly the only time Davis has been pigeonholed in her career.
—Galina Espinoza, Flow Space, 10 Sep. 2025
After making Dances With Wolves, Greene told his agents to pursue other types of projects to ensure he wasn’t pigeonholed as a performer.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 3 Sep. 2025
But Gaga has also been savvy enough not to be pigeonholed as just the avant-garde lady, though, opting for high elegance depending on the event.
—EW.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pigeonholed
Verb
-
Chemical controls are categorized based on their composition and mode of action.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Other cases involved boat strikes or could not be definitively categorized.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
No arrest has been made, but police classified the offense as first or second-degree murder in the police report.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Kaprizov classified the play as lucky.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
With not a lot of airtime to transition her protagonist from reasonable to out of touch with reality, Jonas relegated much of her character’s contemplative qualities to the asides and exaggerated her more base characteristics by adding in some reckless behavior.—
Elaina Patton,
IndieWire,
6 Mar. 2026
-
In the Jim Crow South of the 1940s and 50s, Austin’s Black citizens were relegated east of Interstate 35.—
Cedric Golden,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Dorothy and Marino have moved out, Scarpetta is separated from Benton and Lucy is on the outs with her aunt.—
Emily Zemler,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
-
In a season where the top tier has separated itself from everyone else, Michigan has unfailingly remained consistent, never dipping lower than seventh in the nation (its preseason ranking).—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The minors, according to the letter, identified the school's director, who is a dual American-Guinean citizen, and three other administrators, as responsible for the abuses.—
MARK BANCHEREAU THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
12 Mar. 2026
-
In an interview on Tier Talk — a podcast show on YouTube — the girls’ uncle Guy Gazit identified the girl in blue as Sharon and the girl in pinkish pants as Khimberly.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pigeonholed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pigeonholed. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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