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
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
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
-
In a matter of days, the basement of a local gym was transformed into a free store, with donations categorized by volunteers.—
Elle McLogan,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The number of killings investigated last year fell to 67, with 57 of those categorized as murders — excluding cases such as justifiable homicides — a total not seen since 1967, according to data compiled by this news organization.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife recommends the mountain lions (Puma concolor couguar) in certain regions should be classified as a threatened species under the California Endangered Species Act.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
None of the documents were classified.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But others waiting appeared to burn with the indignation of an era in US-Cuban relations that until recently had been relegated to the history books.—
Patrick Oppmann,
CNN Money,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Bear in mind, this was a time when most universities barred women entirely, or relegated them to a second tier education.—
Natalia Sánchez Loayza,
Scientific American,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The pond sits about 100 feet from the house, separated by an embankment.—
Marissa Armas,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The Rockets, Lakers, Timberwolves and Suns are all separated by two games in the fourth to seventh positions.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The other teen killed was earlier identified as Elizabeth Angle by her family.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
He’s identified as a Mexican drug trafficker in the money laundering indictment filed in Miami federal court.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pigeonholed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pigeonholed. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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