Here are the most popular 4-letter answers sorted by count of occurrences across all puzzles including pre-Shortz, Modern Era, and Variety.
Click any answer to see all its clues.
| Rank | Count | Answer words |
| 1. | 1,586 | AREA |
| 2. | 1,419 | ERIE |
| 3. | 1,242 | ARIA |
| 4. | 1,208 | ALOE |
| 5. | 1,193 | ANTE |
| 6. | 1,135 | ELSE |
| 7. | 1,134 | EDEN |
| 8. | 1,062 | STAR |
| 9. | 1,051 | IDEA |
| 10. | 1,031 | ORAL |
| 11. | 968 | ALAS |
| 12. | 949 | EASE |
| 13. | 947 | ASEA |
| 14. | 935 | EROS |
| 15. | 932 | ALEE |
| 16. | 925 | TREE |
| 17. | 923 | ODOR |
| 18. | 910 | TSAR |
| 19. | 886 | ACRE ENOS |
| 21. | 877 | OLEO |
| 22. | 875 | IRON |
| 23. | 863 | ANTI |
| 24. | 862 | STIR |
| 25. | 860 | OMAR |
| 26. | 856 | ESSE ETON |
| 28. | 854 | ETAL |
| 29. | 853 | ANON |
| 30. | 852 | AMEN |
| 31. | 851 | ONES |
| 32. | 844 | ASIA |
| 33. | 829 | ESTE |
| 34. | 827 | ERIN |
| 35. | 826 | OBOE |
| 36. | 821 | ONCE |
| 37. | 815 | ENDS |
| 38. | 810 | ETNA |
| 39. | 806 | ARES |
| 40. | 803 | ELAN |
| 41. | 801 | ERAS |
| 42. | 796 | ANNE |
| 43. | 782 | ALAI |
| 44. | 774 | IRAN |
| 45. | 762 | EDIT |
| 46. | 758 | IDOL |
| 47. | 757 | ECHO |
| 48. | 748 | EPEE |
| 49. | 747 | ALTO |
| 50. | 745 | INRE |
| 51. | 743 | ERSE |
| 52. | 742 | AERO |
| 53. | 740 | ENID |
| 54. | 737 | ELIA |
| 55. | 735 | RARE |
| 56. | 731 | EAST ISLE |
| 58. | 726 | ETTE |
| 59. | 715 | ETRE |
| 60. | 711 | EDGE EVER |
| 62. | 710 | ALEC |
| 63. | 705 | REST |
| 64. | 701 | ABLE |
| 65. | 700 | ACHE |
| 66. | 699 | ADAM |
| 67. | 698 | NEST |
| 68. | 695 | ALAN |
| 69. | 694 | ISEE |
| 70. | 691 | ELLA |
| 71. | 690 | NERO |
| 72. | 689 | OSLO |
| 73. | 688 | ALIT ARAB EMIT |
| 76. | 687 | IDLE |
| 77. | 686 | ATOM EIRE |
| 79. | 683 | ITEM |
| 80. | 682 | ABET |
| 81. | 681 | EVIL OPAL |
| 83. | 671 | AVER |
| 84. | 665 | RENO |
| 85. | 663 | ARID |
| 86. | 661 | OVER |
| 87. | 657 | ERIC |
| 88. | 656 | INTO |
| 89. | 655 | AONE |
| 90. | 652 | APSE |
| 91. | 649 | UNIT |
| 92. | 644 | OTTO |
| 93. | 643 | NEAT |
| 94. | 641 | IOTA SNAP |
| 96. | 637 | OGRE OMEN RENE |
| 99. | 635 | OMIT |
| 100. | 633 | AFAR OLIO STEP |
| 103. | 628 | ELSA ORES |
| 105. | 625 | EMIR SLED |
| 107. | 623 | STET |
| 108. | 622 | ONTO |
| 109. | 616 | ABEL |
| 110. | 615 | ALES ESAU |
| 112. | 614 | ASHE |
| 113. | 613 | ARTS |
| 114. | 612 | EVEN |
| 115. | 609 | ADEN OPEN OVAL |
| 118. | 608 | NESS |
| 119. | 606 | NEAR |
| 120. | 603 | ONER |
| 121. | 597 | ANNA |
| 122. | 596 | URAL |
| 123. | 593 | OTIS |
| 124. | 592 | ALSO |
| 125. | 591 | YSER |
| 126. | 590 | AMOR ERNE |
| 128. | 588 | IRIS |
| 129. | 587 | ARAL |
| 130. | 584 | ERLE SCAR SPAR |
| 133. | 583 | STEM |
| 134. | 581 | REED |
| 135. | 578 | SERE |
| 136. | 577 | ATOP URGE |
| 138. | 573 | UTAH |
| 139. | 572 | EPIC |
| 140. | 571 | ANEW ERRS |
| 142. | 567 | ASTI IGOR |
| 144. | 564 | ANTS |
| 145. | 562 | NEON |
| 146. | 561 | AGRA EDNA |
| 148. | 558 | ERAT |
| 149. | 557 | AGAR STOP |
| 151. | 554 | RENT |
| 152. | 552 | AMOS |
| 153. | 551 | EDAM NEED |
| 155. | 550 | USER |
| 156. | 549 | LIAR ODES |
| 158. | 542 | KNEE |
| 159. | 540 | NILE |
| 160. | 539 | AURA |
| 161. | 536 | REAR STAN |
| 163. | 535 | TRIO |
| 164. | 534 | ELLE |
| 165. | 533 | ASTA RATE |
| 167. | 532 | AIDE |
| 168. | 530 | ERST |
| 169. | 529 | EARN |
| 170. | 527 | ACES |
| 171. | 525 | ECRU |
| 172. | 524 | OREL SEER |
| 174. | 523 | ORAN |
| 175. | 522 | ETTA |
| 176. | 514 | AGES TEST |
| 178. | 510 | SLOE |
| 179. | 508 | SENT |
| 180. | 507 | ALAR ARNO OREO |
| 183. | 506 | ROLE |
| 184. | 505 | AGEE OTOE |
| 186. | 503 | SERA |
| 187. | 502 | OVEN |
| 188. | 500 | RIOT SETS |
| 190. | 497 | STAT |
| 191. | 496 | ACTS |
| 192. | 494 | OGLE |
| 193. | 493 | SEEN STAG |
| 195. | 491 | ITER |
| 196. | 488 | EELS |
| 197. | 487 | EGAD INCA STOA |
| 200. | 486 | ERGO |
| 201. | 485 | STEW |
| 202. | 483 | LENA REEL |
| 204. | 482 | STAB |
| 205. | 480 | ODIN |
| 206. | 479 | ASST DEER |
| 208. | 478 | EWER |
| 209. | 476 | EARL ONUS TIER |
| 212. | 473 | ACME ANIL LEER ODER |
| 216. | 472 | AMES |
| 217. | 470 | IDES |
| 218. | 469 | REAL |
| 219. | 468 | SALE |
| 220. | 466 | TESS ULNA |
| 222. | 464 | OHIO |
| 223. | 461 | NOSE |
| 224. | 460 | OLLA |
| 225. | 459 | EATS OSSA STLO |
| 228. | 457 | EARS REDS SARI |
| 231. | 456 | SCAT TEAR TEEN |
| 234. | 455 | TROT |
| 235. | 453 | AVON TRES |
| 237. | 452 | AIDA OGEE |
| 239. | 451 | IRAE MERE TIRE |
| 242. | 449 | SODA TRAP |
| 244. | 448 | IVAN |
| 245. | 447 | AJAR SOSO TALE |
| 248. | 445 | AMIE |
| 249. | 442 | ARGO ICON |
| 251. | 441 | LANE |
| 252. | 440 | REDO |
| 253. | 439 | EMMA STEN |
| 255. | 438 | ARTE ETAT USED |
| 258. | 437 | SPAT |
| 259. | 436 | NINE |
| 260. | 435 | STAY |
| 261. | 434 | OMAN TRUE |
| 263. | 433 | SOLE |
| 264. | 432 | ASTO ROAR |
| 266. | 431 | ACID ELIS ETES SASS USES |
| 271. | 430 | HERO LATE SEAT |
| 274. | 429 | TARA |
| 275. | 428 | AHAB |
| 276. | 425 | URSA |
| 277. | 424 | AGED ALOT |
| 279. | 423 | RISE TALC |
| 281. | 422 | LESS NORA |
| 283. | 420 | NATO NETS |
| 285. | 419 | RANT SEMI |
| 287. | 418 | ETAS IAGO |
| 289. | 417 | SANE SPAS |
| 291. | 416 | ARLO |
| 292. | 415 | LIRA |
| 293. | 414 | EYES HERE |
| 295. | 413 | DATA NOEL SEAL |
| 298. | 411 | ESNE |
| 299. | 410 | SATE |
| 300. | 409 | ARNE NOTE RITE |
| 303. | 408 | ASIS ROSE |
| 305. | 407 | HALO |
| 306. | 406 | NANA SEED TONE |
| 309. | 405 | RACE |
| 310. | 404 | AMID ANTA SARA SIRE |
| 314. | 403 | EXIT |
| 315. | 402 | AMAH TETE UNTO |
| 318. | 399 | ATEE LAVA SORE SPOT |
| 322. | 397 | GENE INGE MESS NONE RAIN SNEE |
| 328. | 396 | ALIA ASPS RILE |
| 331. | 395 | ADDS NAME REIN |
| 334. | 394 | ARIL EONS ODDS |
| 337. | 393 | LORE MESA SLAT UTES |
| 341. | 390 | APES ORCA |
| 343. | 389 | TATA |
| 344. | 388 | HARE |
| 345. | 386 | EMIL SPED |
| 347. | 385 | CREE LENS |
| 349. | 384 | ALPS SCAN |
| 351. | 383 | AUTO UPON |
| 353. | 382 | SOLO |
| 354. | 381 | ALDA SCOT |
| 356. | 380 | SALT |
| 357. | 379 | ELMO PERU |
| 359. | 378 | LEAR |
| 360. | 376 | LINE |
| 361. | 374 | MENU |
| 362. | 373 | NOON |
| 363. | 372 | AGOG CEDE ETUI RITA |
| 367. | 371 | EGOS LION SLOT |
| 370. | 370 | ANAT EDDY PLEA UNDO YEAR |
| 375. | 369 | ATTA EBON TENT |
| 378. | 368 | ALAE |
| 379. | 367 | OMNI |
| 380. | 366 | ADES |
| 381. | 365 | EDIE SITE |
| 383. | 364 | EAVE SNIP SSTS TARO |
| 387. | 363 | HERA REAP SAGA |
| 390. | 362 | OMOO SNAG SPAN |
| 393. | 361 | ABUT |
| 394. | 360 | READ SNOW |
| 396. | 359 | EASY ETTU |
| 398. | 358 | ERIS |
| 399. | 357 | AHEM AKIN LAIR PEER YALE |
| 404. | 356 | ESTA NEMO OISE RAGE |
| 408. | 355 | ARCH SILO |
| 410. | 354 | RASP |
| 411. | 353 | LENT RAIL ROTE |
| 414. | 352 | ATTU GNAT OATS TEES TORE |
| 419. | 351 | AWOL SHOE USSR |
| 422. | 350 | ALMA MEET |
| 424. | 348 | APER |
| 425. | 347 | OATH TELE |
| 427. | 346 | LONE RAVE |
| 429. | 345 | SEES |
| 430. | 344 | LAST TITO |
| 432. | 343 | ORNE ROSA |
| 434. | 342 | ETCH SLAP |
| 436. | 341 | ABBA |
| 437. | 340 | OARS ROME SEND |
| 440. | 339 | ACNE DEED |
| 442. | 338 | ANNO IONA SEAS SECT |
| 446. | 337 | LIEN SETA |
| 448. | 336 | RATS TILE |
| 450. | 334 | SMEE |
| 451. | 333 | ITAL ORLE |
| 453. | 332 | ELBA OAHU TENS TOSS |
| 457. | 331 | DEAR LAIC NASA NINA |
| 461. | 330 | GLEE NENE SLAM |
| 464. | 329 | GALA STER |
| 466. | 328 | AARE EWES ICER |
| 469. | 327 | RICE |
| 470. | 326 | DARE |
| 471. | 325 | EGGS EZRA LEES NEER |
| 475. | 323 | ASAP AVID ESPY ISIS LEAN |
| 480. | 322 | CITE EDER ESSO LACE SORT |
| 485. | 321 | GEAR IVES |
| 487. | 320 | ADAR HAHA RELY TAPE |
| 491. | 319 | ASKS LESE OAST TEND |
| 495. | 318 | ADIT EACH IMAM LASS OKRA PETE |
| 501. | 317 | ALTA ECCE ROSS |
| 504. | 316 | ONLY RANI ROOT SAGE SAME SELL |
| 510. | 315 | AQUA RARA TRAM |
| 513. | 314 | DEAN DENT ELIE SEEP STUN |
| 518. | 313 | UCLA |
| 519. | 312 | AINT IDEE PAPA TEAL |
| 523. | 311 | INNS LAOS SPIN TINE |
| 527. | 310 | ACTA |
| 528. | 309 | LAMA MEAT NAIL NICE |
| 532. | 308 | DALI METE SASH SEAR |
| 536. | 307 | BALI CASE ISNT LENO ROMA STOW |
| 542. | 306 | AGER ICES INON MAMA SINE |
| 547. | 305 | EDDA OXEN PEST SAAR SLAV |
| 552. | 304 | AFRO OLES PERT |
| 555. | 303 | ABIE ACER HONE SMOG TART |
| 560. | 302 | IRAS SIAM |
| 562. | 301 | AMOK DATE HALE |
| 565. | 300 | AGUE ARCS ELLS PSST RIDE |
| 570. | 299 | RASH ROAN |
| 572. | 298 | IRMA LOLA |
| 574. | 297 | OLGA |
| 575. | 296 | ALUM ASSN LEVI PLAN RIGA SOAR |
| 581. | 295 | AMMO EVES PESO SHEA TAXI |
| 586. | 294 | ABED AMAT AXLE EINE ENNA NOVA SLEW |
| 593. | 293 | DELE ROAD TAME THOR |
| 597. | 292 | DENS IBIS ICED |
| 600. | 291 | LIMA RAPT SLAB |
| 603. | 290 | APED LEON TEAS |
| 606. | 289 | IRES PASS REAM |
| 609. | 288 | ARMS ARTY LEAP RULE TROD |
| 614. | 287 | ILES NOAH TERN |
| 617. | 286 | ANET ATEN CARE INIT SOHO |
| 622. | 285 | HIRE NEAP OBIT OTIC SETH TAIL |
| 628. | 284 | EYRE LEST OBEY REND RIPE SLIT |
| 634. | 283 | EURO RAID SHAH TOAD |
| 638. | 282 | AIRE DENY TEEM |
| 641. | 281 | EBRO ILLS OLAF TORO TRIP |
| 646. | 280 | BETA DIAL ERMA SHED |
| 650. | 279 | CENT EYED |
| 652. | 278 | AIRS EBAN ELEE ELON IOWA SOAP |
| 658. | 277 | ALLA CRAB DIET LIES POET SAVE |
| 664. | 276 | SIDE SOME |
| 666. | 275 | LEDA RUIN SNIT TBAR TOGA TOTE |
| 672. | 274 | ELMS |
| 673. | 273 | BASE POLO RTES |
| 676. | 272 | LIST RIAL SHAM |
| 679. | 271 | ACED FREE OVID |
| 682. | 270 | ABOU DEAL EERO |
| 685. | 269 | DESK ECON HOLE NAST TOES TREK |
| 691. | 268 | ABCS MAGI OONA SAFE TIME TUNA |
| 697. | 267 | SNOB SOON SURE TACT TEAM |
| 702. | 266 | AVOW CAST COLA PIER TIDE |
| 707. | 265 | LIME PANE ROLL |
| 710. | 264 | TERM TODO |
| 712. | 263 | AMIR DAIS MARE SAIL |
| 716. | 262 | ALOU DORA LARA MIEN ONEA PEAR |
| 722. | 261 | ALGA APIA DEEP OILS RHEA SEAN UVEA |
| 729. | 260 | AMOI TELL URNS |
| 732. | 259 | MOOR |
| 733. | 258 | ALLY ARAM PALE YENS |
| 737. | 257 | AUNT RING |
| 739. | 256 | ACTI AILS ANDY DADA DRAT EXAM HAIR LOSE SLUR WEST |
| 749. | 255 | ENOL ENTO HOSE LEAD NONO PARE TOTO URIS |
| 757. | 254 | DIOR TINT |
| 759. | 253 | CLAM HORA RYES |
| 762. | 252 | BEST EKES HATE LAME MASS NAPE OPTS OPUS RODE SOFA |
| 772. | 251 | TAOS |
| 773. | 250 | LANA ROPE SEAM |
| 776. | 249 | EXES LIRE TALL TATE TERI |
| 781. | 248 | HULA TACO THAI |
| 784. | 247 | POSE TREY |
| 786. | 246 | ABAS CLAN EVAN LAMB MATE RANG SEEM SLIP TASS TOME TRIM |
| 797. | 245 | EGIS NELL RATA REEF ROBE |
| 802. | 244 | AGIO DANE ELKS MARC MARS MAST OOZE ROVE |
| 810. | 243 | BASS LEND PAIR |
| 813. | 242 | ALII BEER TARE |
| 816. | 241 | CHAR DELI HENS LOAN LOVE ONIT |
| 822. | 240 | ALOP LEAH LETS LURE MEAN OKIE |
| 828. | 239 | LODE MANE PATE PERE |
| 832. | 238 | BRIE DEEM |
| 834. | 237 | IBAR MINE PAST PERI TOOL WREN |
| 840. | 236 | CASH ITCH OLEG PINE TINA |
| 845. | 235 | AVIS DART DISC GATE MEAL NEWS |
| 851. | 234 | APEX CRAM PEEL SERB SOOT SWAT |
| 857. | 233 | HOPI KNOT LOST NAPA ROIL SWAN THEE |
| 864. | 232 | ATIT CONE ENTE LIEU LOOT MORE NORM ORSO PACE PISA SYNE |
| 875. | 231 | AEON ASHY CORE DESI DOOR OLDS SEGO |
| 882. | 230 | AMIS CANE LOON RAFT ROUE TUTU |
| 888. | 229 | EMUS IONS LAHR |
| 891. | 228 | ATON HERR PACT PARA SHOO TUNE |
| 897. | 227 | DROP NOME NYET PAGE SALA THAT YORE |
| 904. | 226 | AVEC CHAP DIRE EBBS ITSA SAND |
| 910. | 225 | CANT DOER ERNS NEWT ROSY SCAM SLAW TORT |
| 918. | 224 | BESS GASP GLEN LINT MESH ORBS PORE RAMA RAMP SHOP SPIT |
| 929. | 223 | AMER AVES LISA SAPS |
| 933. | 222 | AXIS CASA RAKE SPEE TMEN |
| 938. | 221 | AROW COAT CODA ELAL HERS OSHA OUST YETI |
| 946. | 220 | ADOS CAMP CHAT DRIP EELY NOTA ROOM |
| 953. | 219 | ARKS HASP ODEA ROAM |
| 957. | 218 | ERGS ITIS LARD SANS |
| 961. | 217 | BRER PLOT ROUT TIES |
| 965. | 216 | BARE ELBE GLAD INCH NCAA SHAG |
| 971. | 215 | AWAY CHIC EARP LEIS LOGE NERD SIRS TAUT |
| 979. | 214 | CATO EKED ENDO LASH NOUN OPEC RUSE SLIM TARS |
| 988. | 213 | BEET CLAP DALE EDGY LAND NEIL PENS PEON RIND SIGN SONS WERE |