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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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
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
Verb
-
Witter is Desert Vintage’s longest-serving employee, save for its current owners, Roberto Cowan and Salima Boufelfel, and is in charge of categorizing and dating the rare and glorious treasures that come through the shop’s doors.—
Max Berlinger,
Vogue,
11 June 2026
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The reforms also open up the possibility of categorizing gangs and drug cartels as terrorist groups.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
3 June 2026
Verb
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The team began sorting through possible origins for this high-energy neutrino particle by acting like cosmic forensic detectives, classifying the detection of the particle as a crime scene and hunting for potential clues that point toward a culprit.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
28 May 2026
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Researchers debuted an inventory for classifying apocalyptic belief, comprising anthropogenic causality, theogenic causality, imminence, personal control, and the question of whether the end is a good or bad thing.—
Wyatt Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
26 May 2026
Verb
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Though the team attempted to dismiss the controversy with that response, Agrest noted that the statement did not include an apology for relegating the Spanish-language broadcasters in favor of their English-speaking counterparts.—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
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Decades ago, two six-year-olds went missing for thirty-six hours, sparking a media frenzy that they had been briefly abducted by UFOs but eventually relegating them to a pop cultural punchline.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Dutch find separating goal to regain control With Japan in full control of momentum after the quick answer, the Netherlands parlayed a swing of possession into a winner in the 64th minute.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 June 2026
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Taking a calcium supplement or eating a calcium-heavy meal alongside iron can cut iron absorption by up to 50%, which is why nutritionists suggest separating the two by at least two hours.—
Allison Palmer
Updated June 13,
Sacbee.com,
13 June 2026
Verb
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Chicago police are asking for the public's help in identifying a suspect who stabbed another man during a fight on a CTA Blue Line train earlier this month.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
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The leaders of three of the world’s most influential film festivals told Shanghai on Sunday that the role of the festival circuit in discovering and developing new voices has never been more critical – and that personal connection, not data, remains the truest compass for identifying talent.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pigeonholing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pigeonholing. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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