Illustration of rhomboid
rhom·boid
ˈräm-ˌbȯid 
: a parallelogram with no right angles and with adjacent sides of unequal length
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Rhomboids, like triangles, may take various different shapes, but they always look like a lopsided diamond or rectangle. As both a noun and an adjective, rhomboid can be applied to anything with those shapes, such as certain muscles of the upper back when viewed from behind. Whenever you hear about rhomboid exercises, rhomboid strain, or rhomboid pain, it involves those muscles, which attach your shoulder blades to your spine and can be strained by carrying a heavy backpack, serving a tennis ball, or just slumping in your chair in front of a computer all day.
Examples of rhomboid in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Popular Mechanics, 17 Aug. 2023
To avoid that, tighten both your lats and rhomboids.
—Men's Health, 11 July 2023
There was her stained glass version, among other oblong wise men and faceless, rhomboid Baby Jesuses.
—Aj Willingham, CNN, 3 Dec. 2022
To strengthen the rotator cuff, middle trapezius and rhomboid muscles HOW: Hold an exercise band with an underhand grip with your elbows bent to 90-degrees.
—Jon-Erik Kawamoto, Outside Online, 6 Nov. 2019
Even their origin story has seemed uncertain since the 1997 discovery of a prehistoric Indonesian cave painting of what appears to be a floating rhomboid.
—New York Times, 29 Sep. 2021
The iconic John Hancock Tower, a 62-story rhomboid sheathed in mirrored glass that reflects the sky and the buildings around it, was once deemed to be at risk of literally falling down.
—BostonGlobe.com, 25 June 2021
His 237,000-square-foot translucent glass construction features terrazzo details and a curve used by Mies in the original building, while its striking rhomboid shape corresponds to the street edges.
—Leena Kim, Town & Country, 23 Oct. 2020
That's because strengthening your back muscles—think your lats, rhomboids, and traps—help improve muscle imbalances and posture.
—Christa Sgobba, SELF, 3 Apr. 2020
Tony Gentilcore, Men's Health, 30 Nov. 2022
Rest is the initial plan for outfielder Max Kepler, who missed much of September because of a rhomboid strain — although Falvey said that Kepler will see a specialist.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 9 Oct. 2019
McIlroy said the injury is to a rhomboid muscle on the left side of his body.
—Rick Bonnell, charlotteobserver, 13 Aug. 2017
McIlroy, 28, punctuated a quiet week with a 68, his first sub-70 round of the tournament, and then said a lingering rib injury — a spasming left rhomboid muscle, to be precise — could sideline him indefinitely.
—Karen Crouse, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2017
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Noun
At the same time, a new generation of tanks had replaced the slow, clumsy rhomboids and toy-like vehicles of World War I.
—Popular Mechanics, 17 Aug. 2023
To avoid that, tighten both your lats and rhomboids.
—Men's Health, 11 July 2023
There was her stained glass version, among other oblong wise men and faceless, rhomboid Baby Jesuses.
—Aj Willingham, CNN, 3 Dec. 2022
To strengthen the rotator cuff, middle trapezius and rhomboid muscles HOW: Hold an exercise band with an underhand grip with your elbows bent to 90-degrees.
—Jon-Erik Kawamoto, Outside Online, 6 Nov. 2019
Even their origin story has seemed uncertain since the 1997 discovery of a prehistoric Indonesian cave painting of what appears to be a floating rhomboid.
—New York Times, 29 Sep. 2021
The iconic John Hancock Tower, a 62-story rhomboid sheathed in mirrored glass that reflects the sky and the buildings around it, was once deemed to be at risk of literally falling down.
—BostonGlobe.com, 25 June 2021
His 237,000-square-foot translucent glass construction features terrazzo details and a curve used by Mies in the original building, while its striking rhomboid shape corresponds to the street edges.
—Leena Kim, Town & Country, 23 Oct. 2020
That's because strengthening your back muscles—think your lats, rhomboids, and traps—help improve muscle imbalances and posture.
—Christa Sgobba, SELF, 3 Apr. 2020
Adjective
Rowing with heavier loads elicits more muscle growth in your middle and lower traps, rhomboid major, rhomboid minor, upper traps, rear deltoids, and rotator cuff muscles.
—Tony Gentilcore, Men's Health, 30 Nov. 2022
Rest is the initial plan for outfielder Max Kepler, who missed much of September because of a rhomboid strain — although Falvey said that Kepler will see a specialist.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 9 Oct. 2019
McIlroy said the injury is to a rhomboid muscle on the left side of his body.
—Rick Bonnell, charlotteobserver, 13 Aug. 2017
McIlroy, 28, punctuated a quiet week with a 68, his first sub-70 round of the tournament, and then said a lingering rib injury — a spasming left rhomboid muscle, to be precise — could sideline him indefinitely.
—Karen Crouse, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2017
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rhomboid.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Dictionary Entries Near rhomboid
Cite this Entry
“Rhomboid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rhomboid. Accessed 23 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
rhomboid
noun
rhom·boid
ˈräm-ˌbȯid
: a parallelogram with no right angles and with each side differing in length from the two other sides it comes in contact with
rhomboid
adjective
rhomboidal
adjective
räm-ˈbȯid-ᵊl
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