as in classifying
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 compartmentalizing
The part that’s hard for me is actually not being in that space and compartmentalizing it.
—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
6 June 2026
The duality applies to the whole team, which has seemingly mastered compartmentalizing its fun side and its serious side, tapping into one personality or the other on command.
—
Haley Sawyer,
Daily News,
28 Mar. 2026
The premise isn’t without its intriguing ideas, too, like how dating-app technology has had a broader compartmentalizing effect on monogamous relationships in general.
—
Andy Andersen,
Vulture,
4 Mar. 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
But a different kind of compartmentalizing going on, yeah.
—
Kate Aurthur,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
Instead of compartmentalizing passion and profession, some workers are finding that one can meaningfully enhance the other.
—
Michael Hansen,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
6 June 2026
The duality applies to the whole team, which has seemingly mastered compartmentalizing its fun side and its serious side, tapping into one personality or the other on command.
—
Haley Sawyer,
Daily News,
28 Mar. 2026
The premise isn’t without its intriguing ideas, too, like how dating-app technology has had a broader compartmentalizing effect on monogamous relationships in general.
—
Andy Andersen,
Vulture,
4 Mar. 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
But a different kind of compartmentalizing going on, yeah.
—
Kate Aurthur,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
Instead of compartmentalizing passion and profession, some workers are finding that one can meaningfully enhance the other.
—
Michael Hansen,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compartmentalizing
Verb
-
About a week before Illinois passed its law classifying prediction markets as sports betting operators, the CFTC proposed new rulemaking that lays out how the commission would manage its exclusive control over regulating these markets.
-
The British meteorological service has issued a rare red warning for extreme heat in the days forward, classifying the coming wave as a risk to life.
Verb
-
Here’s more on the true crime genre, and a list of high-ranking true crime podcasts for June 2026.
-
Plaintiffs counter that Carr likely exchanged messages with Musk or other high-ranking DOGE officials.
Verb
-
The region’s altitude and cold nights help preserve acidity and aromatics in the wines, distinguishing Amyndeon from Greece’s warmer coastal and island appellations.
-
The motion detection is smart, too, distinguishing among people, pets, and vehicles, which reduces false alerts.
Verb
-
Unlike standalone projects developed individually, Lightshift is grouping the installations into a larger portfolio.
-
The Batch Zero framework aims to speed up the study process by grouping qualified projects of at least 75 MW into one study so ERCOT can assess demand, allocate grid capacity and identify transmission upgrades.
Verb
-
Perhaps its most red card-worthy offense was relegating Kuno Becker’s charismatic lead — the series’ only mainstay — to bit part, focusing instead on two new England internationals without an ounce of personality.
-
The new format will be familiar to fans of other sports like soccer, where some leagues feature differentiated divisions that promote and retain the best performing teams, while relegating those who don’t perform as well to lower circuits.
Verb
-
Nearly four-fifths of respondents said that gas prices present some sort of strain, with 34% categorizing it as a major strain and 44% calling it a minor strain.
-
The agency stopped categorizing the causes of death in March of last year.
Verb
-
Khushboo Gupta, vice president of policy at PETA India, said the aesthetic appeal of live elephants doesn’t justify shackling, beating and separating them from their families.
-
This process involves removing fuel, managing radiological controls, separating the hull, demilitarizing, and recycling.
Verb
-
These include a mail sorting station, built-in charging areas on the shelves for phones, and bulletin boards or pin-up spaces for notes and calendars.
-
In early tests, participants continued assembling and sorting objects while responding naturally to the changing audio cues.
Cite this Entry
“Compartmentalizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compartmentalizing. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
