ONE AND THE SAME
The Puzzlemaster Presents Vol. 2
Will Shortz

Each of the words below has a synonym that relates to the original word according to a certain pattern. The pattern is the same for clues #1-16, with a slight variation for clues #17-20. What is the pattern and what are the synonyms?

1. Combat
2. Educate
3. Church
4. Umpire
5. Choose
6. Collar
7. Blunder
8. Arctic
9. Madden
10. Swerve
11. Push
12. Bush
13. Stupid
14. Brain
15. Antennae
16. Flabbergast
17. Ample
18. Eating
19. Total
20. Flabbergast

Answers:

The pattern is that a synonym for each clue can start with the last two letters of the given word, or in the case of #17-20, with the last three letters:

1. Combat - attack
2. Educate - teach
3. Church - chapel
4. Umpire - referee
5. Choose - select
6. Collar - arrest
7. Blunder - err / error
8. Arctic - icy
9. Madden - enrage
10. Swerve - veer
11. Push - shove
12. Bush - shrub
13. Stupid - idiotic
14. Brain - intellect
15. Antennae - aerials
16. Flabbergast - stun
17. Ample - plenty
18. Eating - ingesting
19. Total - tally
20. Flabbergast - astound / astonish