Saladdodger,
Each of the wordplay only answers has a synonym that has a pattern.
Take the first letters and anagram them. Look up that word in ODQ. You will see that word, the source and the three letter word to be entered in the middle of the grid.
Find the source in the grid. You can draw a contiguous line but it is not a straight line.
Afraid I'm still not getting this. All the synonyms have 5 letters and end -er? But even so there seem so many options? Any further nudges much appreciated.