‘Interlocks (with)’ NYT Mini Crossword (Aug. 16) answer and hints

Today’s NTY Mini clue, “Interlocks (with),” is particularly tricky. My mind immediately went to things like keyrings, locks, and other items you can interlock together—but I was way off the mark.

‘Interlocks (with)’ NYT Mini clue hints

Before I give you the answer, I’ll give you four hints so you can try and get the answer yourself.

• Hint 1: A synonym would be “entangles.”
• Hint 2: Begins with the letter “M.”
• Hint 3: Anagram is “EHSMSE”
• Hint 4: Ends with an “S.”

Had enough? I don’t blame you. I’m about to reveal the answer below, so stop scrolling if you don’t want to spoil it.

‘Interlocks (with)’ NYT Mini clue answer

The answer to the NYT Mini Aug. 16 clue “Interlocks (with)” is “MESHES.” According to our friends at Merriam-Webster, “mesh” or “meshes” (as a intransitive verb in this case) means “to coordinate closely” or “interlock.”

‘Interlocks (with)’ NYT Mini clue difficulty rating

I know; what the hell? There’s no way on god’s green earth I would have gotten this answer without solving the answers around it. There’s the odd occasion I use “mesh” or “meshing” in everyday life (like to say two people aren’t meshing or I’m not meshing with this clue). I may have understood this if the noun was the answer, but the “es” at the end really threw me off. As such, I’m giving this a four-out-of-five difficulty rating.

All NYT Mini Aug. 16 answers

Across

• 1A Senegal’s neighbor to the east — MALI
• 5A ___ Allen White, star of TV’s “The Bear” — JEREMY
• 7A Make a getaway — ESCAPE
• 8A What’s longer in the morning and evening than it is at noon — SHADOWS
• 9A Voices below altos — TENORS
• 10A No longer in the Drafts folder — SENT

Down

• 6D Coniferous trees with red berries — YEWS
• 1D Interlocks (with) — MESHES
• 2D Esoteric — ARCANE
• 3D Give false hope to — LEAD ON
• 4D Ship into the country — IMPORT
• 5D “Surely you___!” — JEST

How to play more word games like the NYT Mini

It’s Friday! And if you’re planning a quiet night at home, you should consider playing a few more word games while you relax. For more crosswords, check out the daily ones at the LA Times, The Atlantic, and the Washington Post. If you’re still looking for word games after that, try Strands and Spelling Bee.