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
Executives had pigeonholed her as a rom-com queen.
—
New York Times, 14 Mar. 2026
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
New York Times, 14 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pigeonholed
Verb
-
Previously, Aurora categorized data centers as warehouses so had few restrictions around them, but an influx of data center proposals along with residents’ concerns about existing facilities prompted the city to stop accepting new applications until new rules could be developed.—
R. Christian Smith,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Mar. 2026
-
The platform connects nano creators with beauty brands and currently has more than 40,000 creators categorized by beauty preferences and cultural interests.—
Kathryn Hopkins,
Footwear News,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Addiction itself was not officially classified as a disease until 1987.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
-
River Bend is classified as a village — instead of a city or other municipality — under Missouri law due to its small population size.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But Gibbs hasn’t been relegated to the past and his name still comes up occasionally, including in the 500th episode case, though getting there for Binder was a journey.—
Jim Halterman,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Her fitness-instructor character is stuck in the past, something that obviously hits close to home for Val, who is feeling especially tender after being relegated to the role of day player.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Carmen only got to visit him once after they were separated.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
-
After Laura was separated from her son, the investigator said the boy was eating pancakes and sausages and was mobile.—
Amelia Mugavero,
CBS News,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Security camera video from the family's home shows a deputy, whom the family attorney identified as Jose Guzman, arriving at the Apple Valley home.—
Zach Boetto,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
He will be publicly identified by the Tarrant County Medical Examiner.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pigeonholed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pigeonholed. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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