There is a very unusual relationship between the words in each synonym pair below. Can you determine what it is?

1. CONFISCATE - SEIZE
2. LIFE OF RILEY - EASE
3. SCRUTINIZES - EYES
4. FLIRT WITH - TEASE
5. RUN THROUGH - USE

HINT:
It has to do with repeated letters in the first word(s) of each pair.

Answers:

The second synonym in each pair is a homophone of the repeated letters in the first synonym:

1. CONFISCATE - C's - SEIZE
2. LIFE OF RILEY - E's - EASE
3. SCRUTINIZES - I's - EYES
4. FLIRT WITH - T's - TEASE
5. RUN THROUGH - U's - USE 

Credit: NY Times Crossword
August 11, 2016
Timothy Polin