MINIGRAMS
Credit: GAMES Magazine - Feb/Mar 1989
Fraser Simpson

A minigram is a sort of minimal anagram. It is the result of anagramming the letters of the word after all duplicate letters have been eliminated. For example, a minigram for the word MISSISSIPPI would be IMPS. This is found by eliminating the duplicate letters in MISSISSIPPI, leaving, in order, MISP - which can be anagrammed into IMPS.

In the clues below, find a minigram for one of the words, such that the other word is its synonym. Continuing the example above, MISSISSIPPI could have been paired with RASCALS, because RASCALS is a synonym for the minigram IMPS. Either of the two words could be the minigram.

1. GODLESS, CABINS
2. BASEBALL, PACKAGES
3. REGRETTING, GUNRUNNING
4. CAVALRYMAN, CLEARANCE
5. INSIGNIFICANT, HIGHLIGHTS
6. STARTED, BEANBAG
7. SIGNALS, SUCCESSES
8. REVERENTIAL, LONESOMENESS

Answers:

1. LODGES
2. BALES
3. RUING
4. LANCER
5. SLIGHT
6. BEGAN
7. CUES
8. SOLEMN 

NOTE:  See also LETTER BANKS