as in mom
a female human parent
I told my ma that on Mother's Day we'd be dining at the town's toniest restaurant
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ma
These were the sons of ma-and-pa grocery stores who had closed when Wal-Mart took over.
—
Sarah Jones, The New Republic, 13 Apr. 2018
Come for a lesson on the importance of male friendship and stay for Will Ferrell demanding ma’s meatloaf.
—Mahita Gajanan, Time, 17 Jan. 2018
Can anyone—your sister, your best friend, your ma—ever know the totality of you?
—Chicago Reader, 14 Feb. 2018
See all Example Sentences for ma 
Sarah Jones, The New Republic, 13 Apr. 2018
Come for a lesson on the importance of male friendship and stay for Will Ferrell demanding ma’s meatloaf.
—Mahita Gajanan, Time, 17 Jan. 2018
Can anyone—your sister, your best friend, your ma—ever know the totality of you?
—Chicago Reader, 14 Feb. 2018
See all Example Sentences for ma
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ma
Noun
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Are these moms overstimulated in the technical sense?—
Angela Haupt,
TIME,
11 Feb. 2025
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TVLine hears that both the mom and son roles have the potential to recur.—
Matt Webb Mitovich,
TVLine,
11 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The mother plant gradually declines as the new plants form.—
Tom MacCubbin,
Orlando Sentinel,
6 July 2024
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The 69-year-old hails from an ethnically mixed family – his father is Azeri and his mother is Kurdish.—
Nadeen Ebrahim,
CNN,
6 July 2024
Noun
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Elizabeth Banks is one hard-working mamma, and that’s just fine with her.—
Angel Saunders,
Peoplemag,
30 Oct. 2023
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God bless my mamma in heaven!—
Harper's Bazaar Staff,
Harper's BAZAAR,
25 Apr. 2021
Noun
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On the plus side, Bill’s shocking death inspires various members of his inner circle — including ex-wife Maddie, baby mama Noreen and secret son Isaac — to reevaluate their priorities and make some important changes in their lives.—
Andy Swift,
TVLine,
6 Feb. 2025
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Sources close to the situation said that the trouble started when Johnson and another one of Black’s baby mamas got into it toward the end of the party.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
29 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near ma
Cite this Entry
“Ma.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ma. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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