pigeonholed

verb

past tense of pigeonhole
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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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 pigeonholed It's not just pigeonholed into one spot. — Tax Notes Staff, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026 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 The best sci-fi games are often pigeonholed into specific genres like shooters, strategy games, and RPGs, and for good reason; franchises like Mass Effect, StarCraft, and Half-Life are all-time classics. — Keith Langston, Space.com, 31 May 2026 German actors abroad are often pigeonholed as villains. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2026 Hamill could not always avoid being pigeonholed. — Sanat Pai Raikar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 Mar. 2026 Executives had pigeonholed her as a rom-com queen. — New York Times, 14 Mar. 2026 At 46, Kate Hudson has secured a Best Actress Oscar nomination for Song Sung Blue, marking a dramatic career shift 25 years after her first nomination and years of being pigeonholed as Hollywood’s rom-com leading lady. — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 24 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pigeonholed
  1. categorized
  2. classified
  3. relegated
  4. separated
  5. identified
Verb
  • Not all aggressive plants are invasive, but in some cases an aggressive, non-native plant can be categorized as invasive.
    — Dr. Lauren Kurtz, Hartford Courant, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The vast majority of states also allow vaccine exemptions for non-medical reasons, which may be categorized as religious or personal.
    — Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of categorized
Verb
  • The medium-lift rocket’s payload was classified, but it was believed to be a military communications satellite.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The report classified another 46 percent of finishing processes as having a medium chemical impact.
    — Jennifer Bringle, Footwear News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of classified
Verb
  • On the other hand, Hull were relegated, as were Sunderland, with David Moyes at the helm in his only season there, although there were factors beyond merely the identity of the manager.
    — Nick Miller, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Hayes gives Valkyries spark Salaun was relegated to the role of spectator, but the Valkyries did not lack for scoring off the bench.
    — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of relegated
Verb
  • The park is physically close to Yankee Stadium, separated by just a stoplight from the main entrance.
    — Sam Blum, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The noun developed later for something removed or separated—hence a narrow strip of land, cloth, or material.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of separated
Verb
  • The Puerto Rican boxer had brain surgery but never fully recovered from his injuries, identified as a large subdural hematoma, and was in a persistent vegetative state.
    — Matt Moret, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The Institute for Justice, a nonprofit law firm specializing in civil liberties cases, identified over 100 incidents of automatic license plate reader abuse, including stalking and wrongful stops.
    — Charlie De Mar, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of identified

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Cite this Entry

“Pigeonholed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pigeonholed. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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