Animals in an early-2000s virtual fad Crossword Clue

We have the 7-letter answer for Animals in an early-2000s virtual fad crossword clue, last seen in the NYT Crossword February 28, 2026 puzzle. Let us help you solve the crossword clue that has you stumped so you can finish the puzzle.

Animals in an early-2000s virtual fad Crossword Answer

→57.

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Helpful Hints

Hint 1: Clue Definition

VIRTUAL (adjective)
1. being actually such in almost every respect
2. existing in essence or effect though not in actual fact

Hint 2: Anagram

Unscramble the letters below to solve for today's answer.
OPENEST

More NYT Crossword (2/28/2026) Answers

Across

1. Set unambitious goals

7. One playing beerball, perhaps

14. Tolkien ring bearer

16. Precious person

17. Phrase you might say while pointing at a photograph

18. Goes against the rule?

19. Musical set in Alphabet City

20. Term of endearment appropriated from 9-Down

22. Part of a Blues Brothers outfit

23. Animated friend of Sebastian the crab

25. Some arm muscles, informally

27. Cassiterite is a source of it

28. Robert Frost's middle name

29. ___ Allen Express, Amtrak train from New York City to Burlington, Vt.

31. Innermost moon of Neptune

33. Pressure gauge?

35. Past, colloquially

36. Symbols used to group blocks of computer code

37. Was on the sidelines

38. Breathlessness

39. Polynesian staple

42. Not mainstream, as some music genres

43. Fuss

44. Weakens, as an overly strong character, in video game lingo

46. Angora fabric

49. Utmost

51. ___ Tung, star of cable TV's "The Summer I Turned Pretty"

52. Did a bedtime task

54. Modern banking convenience

56. Musical sample added for excitement

58. Entered again

59. One might play at home

All Answers

Down

1. Kind of projection

2. Call at a roll call

3. Big jerk

4. Drink often sipped

5. Rap pioneers, slangily

6. Space to develop as a person?

7. In brief, to whom Grover Cleveland once said "I am making a strange wish for you ... that you may never be president of the United States"

8. School houses?

9. Dialect that is responsible for a large majority of Gen Z slang

10. Put one's foot down

11. Decorative items worn at Western galas

12. Like defendants at court

13. Principle of improv comedy

15. Gay nightlife spot with a dress requirement

21. Error correction tool

24. Uncork, so to speak

26. Body bronzer

30. ___ Story (punny nickname for the "Iliad")

31. Like the lion killed by Hercules

32. Scientific classification for birds

33. Tesla, for one

34. Affliction treated with a nit comb

35. Acting like a sore loser, informally

36. ___ counter

37. South Indian lentil stew

39. Following etiquette

40. Recently

41. Declaration after "because"

43. French relative

45. Skip the ceremony, say

47. Like some unmoisturized skin

48. Blue-roofed restaurant

50. Coral and sand, for two

53. Popular role-playing game since 1974, informally

55. One whose eyes are "all aglow" in "The Christmas Song"

All Answers