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
Brian Mazique, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024
Miscommunication or rigid roles often lead to isolation, where people are pigeonholed based on age or assumptions rather than their actual interests or expertise.
—Francois Botha, Forbes, 15 Sep. 2024
Andrew Gilbert, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024
Both Los Angeles and Mexico City have dining ecosystems too vast to pigeonhole; flashy glamour will always be part of them.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2023
See All Example Sentences for pigeonhole
Verb
According to Ricochet, Irvin wanted to be a character in WWE storylines and seemingly felt pigeonholed in her role as a ring announcer.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024
Miscommunication or rigid roles often lead to isolation, where people are pigeonholed based on age or assumptions rather than their actual interests or expertise.
—Francois Botha, Forbes, 15 Sep. 2024
Noun
Much like Chambers is indelibly linked to funk and fusion, White tends to be pigeonhole as a fusion patriarch.
—Andrew Gilbert, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024
Both Los Angeles and Mexico City have dining ecosystems too vast to pigeonhole; flashy glamour will always be part of them.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2023
See All Example Sentences for pigeonhole
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pigeonhole
Verb
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The researchers categorized participants as inactive, weekend warriors, or regularly active based on data from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) collected from 2011 to 2018.—
Laura Hensley,
Verywell Health,
14 Mar. 2025
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Each result was then reviewed by two reporters, who used licensing records to confirm it was categorized correctly.—
Charles Ornstein,
ProPublica,
13 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Isle of Gelato: A cubbyhole of a place on Pedlar Street sells artisanal ice creams, including vegan recipes, that have amassed quite a following.—
Prasad Ramamurthy,
Travel + Leisure,
18 Sep. 2024
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Once removed from their cubbyhole, the bits can be inserted in one of two hexagonal driver holes.—
Ben Coxworth,
New Atlas,
17 July 2024
Verb
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Despite the depth and breadth of his transactions, Sweeney did not classify his work as a teardown.—
Fluto Shinzawa,
The Athletic,
8 Mar. 2025
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Using data from nearly 10,000 herbarium specimens, scientists at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History have brought attention to the conservation status of these plants, revealing that 87 species—almost half of the genus—are now classified as threatened with extinction.—
Ella Jeffries,
Smithsonian Magazine,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
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No matter the size of the cubicle layout, companies can install tall dividers (around six feet tall) between desks rather than short (around three feet tall) whack-a-mole-style cubicles.—
Dr. Cynthia J. Young,
Forbes,
3 Mar. 2025
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There were the usual cubicles, copy machines and coffee mugs — but, above it all, there was roof of jagged rock, covered in metal mesh to keep rocks from falling on employees’ heads.—
Jess Bidgood,
New York Times,
15 Feb. 2025
Verb
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While most automakers have relegated AI to safety-system technology in current models, Mercedes' use of AI in the cabin is a new frontier for the North American market, especially for a vehicle on the lower end of a company's lineup.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
Newsweek,
13 Mar. 2025
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Queen was left off the first team picked by the media and relegated to the second team.—
Edward Lee,
Baltimore Sun,
11 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Featuring two compartments with a removable divider insert, this case has room for all your essentials, and nothing wiggles around.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
14 Mar. 2025
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Just pop out the inner compartment and swap in a new one—saving a bit of plastic and four bucks in the process.—
Jennifer Hussein,
Allure,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The incident occurred only about 15 miles south of the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas.—
Faisal Kutty,
Newsweek,
12 Mar. 2025
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For the flight test, Eisele maneuvered Apollo 7 into position with a docking target painted on the side of the Saturn rocket’s upper stage (the capsule had separated from the upper stage the day before and let some distance grow between the two vehicles before trying the maneuver).—
Kiona N. Smith,
Forbes,
12 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Max Einhorn, one of many filmmakers and industry executives who have formed AI production companies, has a unique niche in a developing market.—
Charlie Fink,
Forbes,
8 Mar. 2025
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What began as a niche concept has grown into a specialized solution for aerospace manufacturers and technicians.—
Jason Phillips,
USA TODAY,
6 Mar. 2025
Articles Related to pigeonhole
Cite this Entry
“Pigeonhole.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pigeonhole. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
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