STATE DEPARTMENT I
From BRAIN GAMES FOR WORD NERDS (adapted)
Francis Heaney

Each word below can be changed to a new one by adding the two letters of a U.S. state postal abbreviation to it. The letters may be added at either end of the word or inserted into it. For example, given the word SQUID, the letters AL - the postal abbreviation for Alabama - could be inserted into it to give SQUALID. The names of the states are given below as hints.

1. CHEER
2. BRONC
3. PINTO
4. SINE
5. CHINO
6. UNDRESS
7. BRAHMS
8. SLIGHT
9. ACCENT
10. NEATER
11. FOREST
12. SOLE
13. DOCILE
14. COALESCE
15. DENOUEMENT

HINTS:
1. Wisconsin
2. Hawaii
3. Maine
4. Wyoming
5. Oklahoma
6. Louisiana
7. Indiana
8. Kentucky
9. Idaho
10. Massachusetts
11. California
12. Minnesota
13. Michigan
14. Nevada
15. North Carolina

Answers:

1. cheWIer
2. broncHI
3. piMEnto
4. sineWY
5. chinOK 
6. LAundress
7. brahmINs
8. sKYlight
9. accIDent
10. MAneater 
11. foreCAst
12. soleMN
13. doMIcile 
14. coNValesce
15. denouNCement