<p>Rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i> L.), a staple food for more than half of the global population, faces increasing threats from diverse abiotic stresses intensified by climate change. This review synthesizes contemporary advances in understanding the physiological plasticity of rice under major abiotic stresses, including drought, submergence, salinity, temperature extremes, chilling, and heavy metal toxicity. Water deficit alters root architecture, water-use efficiency, osmotic adjustment, and leaf water potential, while submergence tolerance is mediated by adaptive traits such as aerenchyma formation and the <i>SUB1A</i>-regulated quiescence strategy. Salinity stress disrupts ionic homeostasis and induces oxidative damage, counteracted by Na⁺ exclusion, compartmentation, osmolyte accumulation, and antioxidant defense systems. Temperature and chilling stresses impose stage-specific effects on photosynthesis, reproductive development, and grain filling through membrane destabilization, hormonal imbalance, and reactive oxygen species generation. Heavy metal stress further impairs chloroplast function, enzyme activity, and redox balance. The review also highlights recent progress in genomic and genome-editing approaches, particularly CRISPR/Cas systems, for precise manipulation of stress-responsive genes governing ion transport, root architecture, hormonal signaling, and antioxidant pathways. Integrating physiological insights with molecular breeding tools provides a strategic framework for developing climate-resilient rice cultivars to ensure sustainable productivity and global food security.</p>