as in categorized
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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Recent Examples of pigeonholed
Hamill could not always avoid being pigeonholed.
—
Sanat Pai Raikar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 Mar. 2026
Executives had pigeonholed her as a rom-com queen.
—New York Times, 14 Mar. 2026
At 46, Kate Hudson has secured a Best Actress Oscar nomination for Song Sung Blue, marking a dramatic career shift 25 years after her first nomination and years of being pigeonholed as Hollywood’s rom-com leading lady.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 24 Feb. 2026
Seattle’s assimilation of so many players that had previously been underestimated or counted out or pigeonholed, though — starting with former Jets first-round quarterback Sam Darnold — into such a dominant whole is rare.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 9 Feb. 2026
But Burns doesn’t want to be pigeonholed into that description.
—Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 15 Jan. 2026
Women, on the other hand, especially those in the limelight, are frequently pigeonholed into being the face of the brand or the marketing tool.
—Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 29 Dec. 2025
There is a part of me that didn’t want to be pigeonholed.
—Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 14 Nov. 2025
That’s hardly the only time Davis has been pigeonholed in her career.
—Galina Espinoza, Flow Space, 10 Sep. 2025
Sanat Pai Raikar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 Mar. 2026
Executives had pigeonholed her as a rom-com queen.
—New York Times, 14 Mar. 2026
At 46, Kate Hudson has secured a Best Actress Oscar nomination for Song Sung Blue, marking a dramatic career shift 25 years after her first nomination and years of being pigeonholed as Hollywood’s rom-com leading lady.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 24 Feb. 2026
Seattle’s assimilation of so many players that had previously been underestimated or counted out or pigeonholed, though — starting with former Jets first-round quarterback Sam Darnold — into such a dominant whole is rare.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 9 Feb. 2026
But Burns doesn’t want to be pigeonholed into that description.
—Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 15 Jan. 2026
Women, on the other hand, especially those in the limelight, are frequently pigeonholed into being the face of the brand or the marketing tool.
—Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 29 Dec. 2025
There is a part of me that didn’t want to be pigeonholed.
—Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 14 Nov. 2025
That’s hardly the only time Davis has been pigeonholed in her career.
—Galina Espinoza, Flow Space, 10 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pigeonholed
Verb
-
In a public docket, the NTSB categorized the event as a turbulence encounter and said the investigation is ongoing, according to documents reviewed by the San Francisco Chronicle.—
Christopher Edwards,
PEOPLE,
3 Apr. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Addiction itself was not officially classified as a disease until 1987.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
-
River Bend is classified as a village — instead of a city or other municipality — under Missouri law due to its small population size.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Black Chicagoans were relegated to deplorable housing like one room kitchenettes.—
Edie Kasten,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The Rockies, who have now lost eight straight to Philadelphia dating back to last season, looked like a team that should be relegated compared to the two-time defending National League East champs, who have made four straight playoff appearances.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Carmen only got to visit him once after they were separated.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
-
After Laura was separated from her son, the investigator said the boy was eating pancakes and sausages and was mobile.—
Amelia Mugavero,
CBS News,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Security camera video from the family's home shows a deputy, whom the family attorney identified as Jose Guzman, arriving at the Apple Valley home.—
Zach Boetto,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
He will be publicly identified by the Tarrant County Medical Examiner.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pigeonholed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pigeonholed. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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