intercostal
adjective
in·ter·cos·tal
ˌin-tər-ˈkä-stᵊl 
: situated or extending between the ribs
intercostal spaces
intercostal muscles
intercostal
noun
Examples of intercostal in a Sentence
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Baumler was put on the 15-day IL with a right intercostal strain and the Rangers called up Luis Curvelo from Triple-A Round Rock to replace him on the roster.
—
Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2026
The club will likely be without two of their best three starting pitchers to open the season, as Corbin Burnes works his way back from Tommy John surgery and Merrill Kelly deals with lingering intercostal nerve irritation.
—Jack Vita, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026
Coastal Carolina right-hander Cameron Flukey was nails in his first start but was scratched from his second start with a strained intercostal muscle (the muscles between the ribs).
—Keith Law, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Doctors performed X-rays, an EKG, and an MRI, ultimately diagnosing a strained or pinched intercostal muscle.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Nov. 2025
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Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2026
The club will likely be without two of their best three starting pitchers to open the season, as Corbin Burnes works his way back from Tommy John surgery and Merrill Kelly deals with lingering intercostal nerve irritation.
—Jack Vita, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026
Coastal Carolina right-hander Cameron Flukey was nails in his first start but was scratched from his second start with a strained intercostal muscle (the muscles between the ribs).
—Keith Law, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Doctors performed X-rays, an EKG, and an MRI, ultimately diagnosing a strained or pinched intercostal muscle.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for intercostal
Cite this Entry
“Intercostal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intercostal. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
intercostal
1 of 2 adjective
in·ter·cos·tal
ˌint-ər-ˈkäs-tᵊl
: situated or extending between the ribs
intercostal vessels
intercostal spaces
intercostal
2 of 2 noun
: an intercostal part or structure (as a muscle or nerve)
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