as in to classify
to arrange or assign according to type
we shouldn't compartmentalize the students into such restrictive categories as scholar and athlete, which are not mutually exclusive
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Recent Examples of compartmentalize
De-compartmentalize the rooms with a made-to-measure module.
—
Nicolas Milon, Architectural Digest, 24 Feb. 2026
For a film such a this to arrive in a FIFA World Cup year is a stark reminder of the entwinement between soccer and corruption, and De Pauw’s performance as Mayor Dumont — a man inclined to compartmentalize and pass the buck — is wonderfully pathetic.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026
Also, this team had been good all season at compartmentalizing and being unmoved by things outside their control.
—Dianna Russini, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
But Knife is careful to avoid giving the assailant too much space in the narrative, as if compartmentalizing his role was somehow a necessary part of the writer’s rehabilitation.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 25 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for compartmentalize
Nicolas Milon, Architectural Digest, 24 Feb. 2026
For a film such a this to arrive in a FIFA World Cup year is a stark reminder of the entwinement between soccer and corruption, and De Pauw’s performance as Mayor Dumont — a man inclined to compartmentalize and pass the buck — is wonderfully pathetic.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026
Also, this team had been good all season at compartmentalizing and being unmoved by things outside their control.
—Dianna Russini, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
But Knife is careful to avoid giving the assailant too much space in the narrative, as if compartmentalizing his role was somehow a necessary part of the writer’s rehabilitation.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 25 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for compartmentalize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compartmentalize
Verb
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The fire is classified as accidental.—
Pioneer Press,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
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By classifying sports betting as a public health issue and imposing rigid federal standards, the proposal also significantly limits the autonomy of the states, which have been primarily responsible for the legalization and regulation of this sector since 2018.—
Cláudia Nunes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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With a diverse mix of coffee shops, bars and places to eat, the Brookhill neighborhood near South End was ranked the best place to live in the Charlotte region, according to Niche, a neighborhood grading site.—
Chase Jordan
March 30,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Mar. 2026
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That defense entered the second week of March ranked fourth in the league but remained on a milk carton Sunday.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Unlike when the Heat were in the midst of a seven-game winning streak the last time the teams met, the Heat now again have effectively been relegated to the play-in tournament.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
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Lose enough, get relegated to a lower division, and you’ll be forced to lay off staff and take a write-down on your investment as your revenues drastically shrink.—
Andrés Martinez,
Fortune,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Published in 2021 by a team of scholars in such fields as Jewish studies and Holocaust history, it was created to help distinguish hatred of Jews from criticism of Israel.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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Cook also said Idaho State Police does not have a test that is able to distinguish between synthetic and natural-leaf kratom.—
Angela Palermo,
Idaho Statesman,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The lawsuit claims that Missouri lawmakers used no rational basis to categorize which counties qualified for a 5% cap, a freeze or neither.—
Jenna Ebbers,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2026
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There is a long history of women's pain being dismissed by doctors, incorrectly categorized as period pain or rooted in psychological distress.—
Madeline Mitchell,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Compartmentalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compartmentalize. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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