pigeonhole 1 of 2

verb

Definition of pigeonholenext
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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pigeonhole

2 of 2

noun

as in cubbyhole

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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
Verb
It's not just pigeonholed into one spot. — Tax Notes Staff, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026 While Europeans and Americans often pigeonhole Sauternes, Victor Petiot, restaurant director of Caprice at the Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, believes that in China and Hong Kong diners are receptive to sweet wines with savory dishes when they are presented properly. — Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 21 June 2026
Noun
In the interim, Tudor has tried to shrug off the stereotypes and step out of the pigeonholes. — James Horncastle, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026 Chen had hit upon a tantalizing hint that the link between the equality problem and the pigeonhole principle might also go the other way. — Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 1 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pigeonhole
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pigeonhole
  1. categorize
  2. cubbyhole
  3. classify
  4. cubicle
  5. relegate
  6. compartment
  7. identify
  8. niche
Verb
  • Brisk walking, light cycling, doubles tennis and household chores such as vacuuming, mopping and mowing the lawn were categorized as moderate activity; vigorous activity included jogging, fast cycling, singles tennis and aerobics.
    — Jennifer Fields, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Currently, the San Francisco Bay Area is categorized as having high circulation of influenza, whereas activity in the Sacramento region is categorized as moderate to high, according to data from the California Department of Public Health.
    — Brady Halbleib, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of categorize
Noun
  • One day, during my visit, Cole used a step stool to access a small cubbyhole in a high corner of a bedroom wall—a sort of illogical nook that seemed preordained to house some private, upsetting object.
    — Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
  • During the decades with Cox at the helm of the Braves, the smell of cigar smoke became familiar, wafting from the home dugout on early afternoons at old Fulton County Stadium or from a cubbyhole next to the home dugout at Turner Field.
    — David O'Brien, New York Times, 9 May 2026
Definition of cubbyhole
Verb
  • The shoe is classified as a sandal style, but comes up to the knees like a boot.
    — Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 4 Oct. 2026
  • To classify the upcoming back-to-back games as a test for the cornerbacks would be an understatement.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of classify
Noun
  • Warm walnut, rich performance upholstery, and brushed metal details give the pieces a distinctly executive feel without making your home office feel like a corporate cubicle.
    — Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The employee in the cubicle next to yours is probably a woman.
    — Joel Mathis, TheWeek, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of cubicle
Verb
  • As a rookie last year, the flamethrowing right-hander was relegated to the bullpen in the postseason until the NLCS.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Bright bubblegum-adjacent hues often feel relegated to the sunny months, like April through August.
    — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of relegate
Noun
  • In the cottages, the bathroom toilet compartments aren’t large enough to accommodate a wheelchair and there’s no guard rail, although the bathrooms themselves are roomy, with large walk-in showers.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The sanitizer in the third section of the three-compartment sink measured only 50 parts per million, well below the preferred 400 parts per million.
    — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of compartment
Verb
  • After being asked to step out of the chair, a police dog identifies a tin of Altoids in the artist’s pocket.
    — William Vaillancourt, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Sheriff’s officials said the detectives later identified Morales Garcia, Farfan Ambriz and Medina as suspects in the homicide and obtained arrest warrants for them.
    — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of identify
Noun
  • More bespoke programing tied to specific audience niches could be in store, depending on talks between the company and the NFL.
    — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Newcomer Amy Ma decided to check out the club after Instagram recommended it, perhaps based on her interest in other niche activities.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of niche

Browse Nearby Words

pigeon
pigeonhole
pigeonholed
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Cite this Entry

“Pigeonhole.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pigeonhole. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

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