pigeonholing

verb

present participle of pigeonhole
as in categorizing
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 pigeonholing Whether your perception of Gen Z is shaped by real-world interactions or two-dimensional headlines, pigeonholing a whole generation is reductive. — Alex Cooper, Fortune, 16 May 2026 McCurdy cautions against classifying Holiday as a blues singer and pigeonholing her into an age and culture. — Daniella Walsh, Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026 The broader appeal and usefulness of the Dashaway eCT are just too dramatic to dedicate more time pigeonholing himself into a restrictive niche. — New Atlas, 28 Oct. 2025 Leibovitz has always resisted pigeonholing. — Y-Jean Mun-Delsalle, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pigeonholing
  1. categorizing
  2. classifying
  3. relegating
  4. separating
  5. identifying
Verb
  • Those guidelines are much more attractive to taxpayers than those categorizing their income as gambling.
    — Ananya Chetia, CNBC, 18 July 2026
  • Currently, basic Medicare, the public health insurer of many adults over 65, does not cover grab bars, categorizing them like nonslip flooring or bathtub seats as convenience items rather than medical necessities.
    — Panashe Matemba-Mutasa, Mercury News, 13 July 2026
Definition of categorizing
Verb
  • There are also some questions about the legality of classifying current and future Florida homeowners differently.
    — Abigail Hall, The Conversation, 30 July 2026
  • Rather than classifying didymo as an invasive species, Taylor refers to the algae as a native species that has an invasive-like growth form.
    — Hannah Smith July 25, Idaho Statesman, 25 July 2026
Definition of classifying
Verb
  • Livingetc warns against relegating one partner’s belongings to a single corner or spare room while the rest of the home reflects the other person’s taste.
    — Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 July 2026
  • Perhaps its most red card-worthy offense was relegating Kuno Becker’s charismatic lead — the series’ only mainstay — to bit part, focusing instead on two new England internationals without an ounce of personality.
    — Jon O'Brien, Vulture, 26 June 2026
Definition of relegating
Verb
  • Video from the area showed large groups of migrants entering Ceuta through the Tarajal border area, with many arriving by swimming around coastal barriers separating Morocco from Spanish territory.
    — Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 31 July 2026
  • Since separating, the two have remained amicable co-parents, often praising one another in interviews.
    — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 31 July 2026
Definition of separating
Verb
  • In practice, this means that more employees are spending less time producing outputs themselves and more time identifying problems, guiding outputs and evaluating results.
    — Neil Dhar, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The Sheriff’s Office has not released other identifying information about the person, including gender.
    — Angie DiMichele, Sun Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of identifying

Browse Nearby Words

pigeonholes
pigeonholing
pigeons
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Cite this Entry

“Pigeonholing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pigeonholing. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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