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
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
While men athletes often get pigeonholed into specific marketing lanes, women athletes naturally cross boundaries.
—Lindsey Darvin, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
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
While men athletes often get pigeonholed into specific marketing lanes, women athletes naturally cross boundaries.
—Lindsey Darvin, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pigeonholed
Verb
-
Nurses may be categorized by their levels of education.—
Metro Creative Services,
Boston Herald,
15 Feb. 2026
-
At the federal level, the EPA recently clarified gray areas of the law and said these turbines can't be categorized as temporary non-road engines.—
Lora Kolodny,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Property annexed to the village is automatically classified as single family.—
Linda Girardi,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
-
But in 2026, that dream may be out of reach, with recent studies suggesting that the average middle-class worker would need to save for 52 years to be classified as wealthy.—
Alexa Beck,
Fortune,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Neither starts the series out with much in the way of prospects, with Jon the illegitimate, unacknowledged son of a Lord and Sansa relegated to the status of servant after her father is executed before her very eyes.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Feb. 2026
-
After being relegated from the Premier League, Leicester City are in another relegation battle in the Championship.—
Caoimhe O'Neill,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Families have also complained about children being separated from them.—
Jordan Parker
Aviation,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Monuments stand with many of these victims named, separated by state and county.—
Madeline Montgomery,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Both fires remain under investigation and neither victim has been identified.—
Forum News Service,
Twin Cities,
19 Feb. 2026
-
The flier identified Feinbloom as a person of interest.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pigeonholed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pigeonholed. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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