Due to the increasing world population, food demand is increasing. However, metal toxicity poses a serious threat to agricultural productivity as well as to human health by entering the food chain. Various techniques are in use in the present day to alleviate the negative effects of metal stresses in plant species. Plants have a variety of defense mechanisms to fend off the damaging effects of heavy metal toxicity. These systems include the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, metal transporters, and the synthesis of phytohormone and signaling molecules. Exogenous application of signaling molecules and phytohormones has also been demonstrated to be a successful strategy for counteracting the harmful effects of heavy metals, in addition to their endogenous synthesis. Heavy metal stress in plants is mitigated by these signaling molecules and phytohormones through augmenting the photosynthetic and gaseous exchange attributes, antioxidative defense mechanisms, and defense-associated genes such as glutathione biosynthesis genes, osmoregulation, and heavy metal transporter genes. Moreover, the crosstalk between different phytohormones will open new doors in comprehending the intricacies involved in heavy metal stress tolerance for enhancing crop yield.