as in to categorize
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
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Recent Examples of pigeonhole
Billie Melissa, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025
To anyone listening for shibboleths, this would have pigeonholed him as a progressive.
—Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2025
David Colman, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Oct. 2024
Beefheart built a rabid cult following with an abrasive style that’s tough to pigeonhole (and, for the faint of heart, tough to comfortably sit through).
—Ryan Reed, SPIN, 16 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for pigeonhole
Verb
Nominated for eight at this year's Academy Awards, including a nod for in the Best Actor category, A Complete Unknown charts the rise of Bob Dylan in the folk music scene, and his ultimate rebellion against being pigeonholed.
—Billie Melissa, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025
To anyone listening for shibboleths, this would have pigeonholed him as a progressive.
—Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2025
Noun
And even those films starring endlessly reincarnating supernatural psycho slashers chasing nubile coeds aren’t so simple to pigeonhole politically.
—David Colman, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Oct. 2024
Beefheart built a rabid cult following with an abrasive style that’s tough to pigeonhole (and, for the faint of heart, tough to comfortably sit through).
—Ryan Reed, SPIN, 16 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for pigeonhole
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pigeonhole
Verb
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Ensure that your product data is complete, categorized properly and optimized for search engines.—
Waleed Najam,
Forbes.com,
18 Apr. 2025
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While there are endless examples of stimming behavior, they can be categorized into one of five sensory experiences.—
Anna Giorgi,
Verywell Health,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Image Image The center is visible from the street through a glass entrance opening to a wide corridor and wall of custom shelving with cubbyholes, pegboards and stools designed by the architect Koray Duman.—
Hilarie M. Sheets,
New York Times,
27 Mar. 2025
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Even though his 1,440-square-foot cubbyhole packed with used books was closed to walk-in customers during the first few months of the lockdown, Maxwell saw a 30% to 40% boost in sales during that time because customers sharply pivoted to buying books online.—
Rob Nikolewski,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies the Western Santa Cruz tortoises as critically endangered, estimating approximately 3,400 tortoises remained as of 2010.—
Ayana Archie,
NPR,
9 Apr. 2025
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Kathleen Kelley Reardon, an expert on organizational politics, classifies political environments from minimally to pathologically politicized.—
Caroline Castrillon,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
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As baby boomers retire, talented STEM graduates have generally gravitated to high-tech jobs in cubicles rather than gain experience from the factory floor.—
Louis Gritzo,
Forbes.com,
27 Mar. 2025
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Mad scramble for parking and cubicles The transition from remote work has been bumpy.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA TODAY,
25 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The goal of the project is to position women as central figures, as many ancient texts and paintings traditionally depict male heroism, while women are often relegated to mere decoration and reproductive roles.—
Y-Jean Mun-Delsalle,
Forbes.com,
19 Apr. 2025
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What’s worse is that the mouth is sometimes treated as a separate entity from the rest of the body, relegated to the care of dentists, and often excluded from broader discussions about systemic health.—
Chris Gallagher,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Waterproof storage bags tend to be thicker and come with waterproof compartments.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2025
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Inner compression netting and compartments keep everything in place and well-organized, making for a well-rounded bag that will serve you – or mom – very well.—
Rebecca Deurlein,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Those who have been separated from their belongings during the shooting will have the opportunity to retrieve them at a later date.—
Emily Shapiro,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2025
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Since our family has been separated, I have been devastated and confused.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The best opportunities are often hidden in niche industry Slack groups or LinkedIn direct messages.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
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What’s more, Moche canals functioned in tandem with floodwater diversion canals, which activated during El Niño events to create niches of agricultural productivity amid disasters.—
Ari Caramanica,
The Conversation,
8 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pigeonhole.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pigeonhole. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
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