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.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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 pigeonhole
Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2025
That’s hardly the only time Davis has been pigeonholed in her career.
—Galina Espinoza, Flow Space, 10 Sep. 2025
Jim Cramer, CNBC, 13 Apr. 2025
And to his credit, Leitch escapes that pigeonhole … only to get trapped in another.
—Will Leitch, Vulture, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pigeonhole
Verb
The fact that Leaper doesn’t pigeonhole her stories into any one decade or era of modeling means readers can witness just how much has changed in this field of work — for better or for worse.
—Noun
Dover is a company made up of a portfolio of different end markets and should not be held to a data center pigeonhole.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for pigeonhole
Verb
-
The United States justified its attack on Caracas by categorizing it as a law enforcement operation against Maduro.—
-
In a matter of days, the basement of a local gym was transformed into a free store, with donations categorized by volunteers.—
Noun
-
The captain instead had to remain up on the topside in the cubbyhole of his pilot house.—
-
There’s also a theater room with low-level, dimmable lighting; beanbags; and a cubbyhole with a cushioned area.—
Verb
-
The department classifies Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger under its highest Level 4 advisory, warning Americans about issues of terrorism, crime, kidnapping, and more.—
-
Those only include what the police classify as murders or non-negligent manslaughter.—
Noun
-
And newspaper presses, and cubicles for staff.—
-
Dilbert’s titular character, an engineer working in a cubicle at a high-tech company, goes through many of the routine yet farcical aspects of corporate bureaucracy that many Americans were familiar with.—
Verb
-
Though Kuminga is relegated to the bench and no longer in the team’s future plans, Kerr believed the team will not be negatively affected by the situation.—
-
As was the law at that time, the front rows of the bus were the white section, with Black riders being relegated to the back.—
Noun
-
Crafted from durable and impact-resistant material, this spacious carry-on is designed to fit in most overhead compartments (but as always, be sure to check with your specific airline).—
-
This lightweight gym tote has dedicated compartments for tumblers, yoga mats, and valuables.—
Verb
-
The trooper initiated a traffic stop to investigate, and the driver, identified as Ezeiruaku, was arrested.—
-
An investigation identified the suspect as 23-year-old Sidney Dillon Pittman, who lives at the home the delivery driver visited by accident, court records show.—
Noun
-
In the years since 2004’s Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, Penn’s carved out a niche embodying big-talking, attention-grabbing rascals who say inappropriate things, then shrug their way through the consequences.—
-
The study made a significant contribution, if not clarification, to this academic niche — medieval migration wasn’t seasonal, nor sporadic and intense.—
Cite this Entry
“Pigeonhole.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pigeonhole. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
