This clue appeared in the NYT Crossword on Thursday, January 15, 2026 (11 Down). The answer is hidden below until you want it. Thursday puzzles often have a trick, such as a rebus (several letters in one square) or answers that bend the rules.
Answer length: 5 squares
First letter
R _ _ _ _
First and last letters
R _ _ _ S
Show the answer
About the answer
RIFTS as a word: (figurative) A lack of cohesion; a state of conflict, incompatibility, or emotional distance; A chasm or fissure.
RIFTS has been an answer 3 times in the NYT Crossword and Mini since January 15, 2026.
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