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
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
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
That’s hardly the only time Davis has been pigeonholed in her career.
—Galina Espinoza, Flow Space, 10 Sep. 2025
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
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
That’s hardly the only time Davis has been pigeonholed in her career.
—Galina Espinoza, Flow Space, 10 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pigeonholed
Verb
-
Standard substances are categorized by their ability to either transmit an electric current or resist it entirely.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
7 June 2026
-
The film has been categorized as semi-autobiographical in nature for The Parent Trap director.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
5 June 2026
Verb
-
Chlorine gas is poisonous and classified as a pulmonary irritant that has a distinct odor.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
3 June 2026
-
Interestingly, depending on the data provider, the stock is often classified as either an industrial or a technology/software company.—
Frank Cappelleri,
CNBC,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Caden was relegated mostly to pinch hitting.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
29 May 2026
-
They were relegated to the list of general recommendations.—
Amy Drew Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
They were separated at the time of the crash.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
-
Months later, in January 2025, a girl, age 14 at the time, was assaulted after becoming separated from her friends, the CPS said.—
Chantal Da Silva,
NBC news,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
The California Highway Patrol said investigators have identified the suspect as 60-year-old Robert Bell of Stockton.—
Richard Ramos,
CBS News,
3 June 2026
-
The Louisa County Sheriff's Office confirmed that the victim was found dead at the business and identified the victim as a resident of rural Wapello, a small city about 24 miles south of Muscatine.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pigeonholed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pigeonholed. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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