Crossword clue
“It protects the heart”
This clue appeared as 1-Across in the NYT Crossword on Sunday, January 4, 2026. The answer has 7 letters.
Answer · 7 lettersFirst appearance
RIBCAGELetters7
Starts withR
Ends withE
Vowels3
Where this clue has appeared
About this clue
The clue “It protects the heart” ran in the NYT Crossword on January 4, 2026 as 1-Across. Its answer is a 7-letter word that starts with R and ends with E, with 3 vowels, which often points to a phrase, a name or a borrowed word.
See every answer from the puzzle on the NYT Crossword page for January 4, 2026, or learn how clues like this work in our guide to crossword clue types.
More clues from this puzzle
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FAQ
What is the answer to the “It protects the heart” clue?+
The answer is RIBCAGE (7 letters), from the NYT Crossword of January 4, 2026.
Where has this clue appeared?+
We have seen it 1 time in the NYT Crossword.
How do I find other NYT Crossword answers?+
Open the full list of answers for January 4, 2026, or browse every date on the NYT Crossword hub.