rhomboid

1 of 2

noun

rhom·​boid ˈräm-ˌbȯid How to pronounce rhomboid (audio)
: a parallelogram with no right angles and with adjacent sides of unequal length

Illustration of rhomboid

Illustration of rhomboid

rhomboid

2 of 2

adjective

rhom·​boid ˈräm-ˌbȯid How to pronounce rhomboid (audio)
variants or rhomboidal
: shaped somewhat like a rhombus or rhomboid

Did you know?

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
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.
Noun
This exercise targets the majority of your major back muscles, such as your rhomboids, lats, traps, and erectors, as well as your biceps. Jakob Roze, Health, 25 Aug. 2025 That abduction overstretches and weakens the muscles that control the scapula, including the middle traps, lower traps, and rhomboids, which can lead to pain and increase injury risk in the upper back and shoulders. Jenny McCoy, SELF, 25 Aug. 2025 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
Adjective
Face Pulls Face pulls target your upper back muscles, including your rhomboid muscles, while reducing tension in your upper trapezius muscles. Jakob Roze, Health, 17 Dec. 2024 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

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle French rhomboïde, from Latin rhomboides, from Greek rhomboeidēs resembling a rhombus, from rhombos

First Known Use

Noun

1570, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1681, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rhomboid was in 1570

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Cite this Entry

“Rhomboid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rhomboid. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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
räm-ˈbȯid-ᵊl
adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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