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. | 1,602 | AREA |
| 2. | 1,434 | ERIE |
| 3. | 1,247 | ARIA |
| 4. | 1,223 | ALOE |
| 5. | 1,203 | ANTE |
| 6. | 1,147 | EDEN |
| 7. | 1,144 | ELSE |
| 8. | 1,070 | STAR |
| 9. | 1,058 | IDEA |
| 10. | 1,044 | ORAL |
| 11. | 976 | ALAS |
| 12. | 961 | EASE |
| 13. | 952 | ASEA |
| 14. | 941 | EROS |
| 15. | 933 | ALEE |
| 16. | 931 | ODOR |
| 17. | 930 | TREE |
| 18. | 920 | TSAR |
| 19. | 902 | ACRE |
| 20. | 896 | ENOS |
| 21. | 880 | OLEO |
| 22. | 879 | IRON |
| 23. | 873 | ANTI |
| 24. | 870 | STIR |
| 25. | 865 | ETON OMAR |
| 27. | 861 | AMEN ETAL |
| 29. | 860 | ANON |
| 30. | 857 | ESSE |
| 31. | 856 | ONES |
| 32. | 852 | ASIA |
| 33. | 837 | OBOE |
| 34. | 832 | ERIN |
| 35. | 831 | ESTE |
| 36. | 829 | ONCE |
| 37. | 823 | ENDS |
| 38. | 818 | ETNA |
| 39. | 812 | ARES |
| 40. | 810 | ERAS |
| 41. | 809 | ELAN |
| 42. | 802 | ANNE |
| 43. | 783 | ALAI IRAN |
| 45. | 774 | EDIT |
| 46. | 768 | ECHO |
| 47. | 764 | IDOL |
| 48. | 757 | EPEE |
| 49. | 752 | ALTO INRE |
| 51. | 746 | AERO |
| 52. | 744 | EAST |
| 53. | 743 | ERSE |
| 54. | 742 | ENID RARE |
| 56. | 741 | ELIA |
| 57. | 735 | ISLE |
| 58. | 728 | ETTE |
| 59. | 722 | ETRE |
| 60. | 716 | EDGE |
| 61. | 715 | EVER |
| 62. | 713 | ALEC |
| 63. | 709 | REST |
| 64. | 708 | ISEE |
| 65. | 706 | ABLE ADAM |
| 67. | 705 | ACHE |
| 68. | 701 | NEST |
| 69. | 697 | ALAN ELLA |
| 71. | 696 | EMIT IDLE OSLO |
| 74. | 695 | ALIT |
| 75. | 693 | ARAB ATOM |
| 77. | 691 | ITEM NERO |
| 79. | 689 | EIRE |
| 80. | 687 | ABET |
| 81. | 685 | EVIL |
| 82. | 684 | OPAL |
| 83. | 673 | AVER |
| 84. | 669 | OVER RENO |
| 86. | 667 | ARID |
| 87. | 666 | ERIC |
| 88. | 659 | AONE INTO |
| 90. | 657 | APSE |
| 91. | 654 | UNIT |
| 92. | 650 | OMEN |
| 93. | 648 | IOTA |
| 94. | 647 | OTTO |
| 95. | 646 | NEAT SNAP |
| 97. | 644 | OGRE |
| 98. | 643 | RENE |
| 99. | 640 | AFAR |
| 100. | 638 | OMIT ORES STEP |
| 103. | 636 | ELSA |
| 104. | 635 | OLIO |
| 105. | 630 | EMIR |
| 106. | 629 | SLED |
| 107. | 628 | ONTO |
| 108. | 626 | STET |
| 109. | 621 | ESAU |
| 110. | 620 | ARTS |
| 111. | 619 | ASHE |
| 112. | 618 | ABEL ALES OVAL |
| 115. | 617 | OPEN |
| 116. | 616 | NESS |
| 117. | 615 | EVEN |
| 118. | 611 | ADEN NEAR |
| 120. | 603 | ONER |
| 121. | 602 | ANNA |
| 122. | 599 | ALSO OTIS URAL |
| 125. | 596 | IRIS |
| 126. | 594 | AMOR |
| 127. | 592 | SCAR |
| 128. | 591 | ARAL YSER |
| 130. | 590 | ERNE |
| 131. | 589 | STEM |
| 132. | 587 | SPAR |
| 133. | 584 | ATOP ERLE REED |
| 136. | 581 | EPIC URGE |
| 138. | 579 | ANEW UTAH |
| 140. | 578 | SERE |
| 141. | 577 | ERRS |
| 142. | 572 | ANTS ASTI NEON |
| 145. | 571 | AGRA |
| 146. | 570 | IGOR |
| 147. | 565 | EDNA |
| 148. | 563 | AGAR |
| 149. | 562 | STOP |
| 150. | 561 | ERAT |
| 151. | 559 | NEED |
| 152. | 557 | EDAM RENT |
| 154. | 556 | AMOS LIAR |
| 156. | 555 | ODES |
| 157. | 553 | USER |
| 158. | 552 | KNEE |
| 159. | 546 | AURA |
| 160. | 543 | NILE STAN |
| 162. | 540 | ELLE TRIO |
| 164. | 538 | RATE REAR |
| 166. | 537 | AIDE |
| 167. | 535 | ASTA |
| 168. | 533 | EARN |
| 169. | 532 | ACES |
| 170. | 531 | ECRU ERST |
| 172. | 528 | ETTA |
| 173. | 526 | SEER |
| 174. | 525 | OREL |
| 175. | 523 | ORAN |
| 176. | 521 | OREO |
| 177. | 518 | AGES TEST |
| 179. | 512 | SLOE |
| 180. | 511 | SENT |
| 181. | 510 | OTOE |
| 182. | 509 | ROLE |
| 183. | 508 | ACTS |
| 184. | 507 | ALAR ARNO RIOT |
| 187. | 506 | AGEE OVEN SETS |
| 190. | 505 | SERA |
| 191. | 504 | STAT |
| 192. | 499 | STAG |
| 193. | 497 | SEEN |
| 194. | 496 | OGLE |
| 195. | 493 | EELS |
| 196. | 491 | EGAD INCA ITER REEL STEW |
| 201. | 488 | ERGO LENA |
| 203. | 487 | STOA |
| 204. | 485 | ASST |
| 205. | 483 | ODIN STAB |
| 207. | 482 | EWER ONUS |
| 209. | 481 | DEER |
| 210. | 479 | TIER |
| 211. | 478 | EARL |
| 212. | 476 | ACME ANIL |
| 214. | 475 | AMES |
| 215. | 474 | IDES |
| 216. | 473 | LEER ODER REAL TESS |
| 220. | 469 | OHIO SALE |
| 222. | 468 | ULNA |
| 223. | 465 | TEEN |
| 224. | 464 | EARS NOSE |
| 226. | 463 | SARI |
| 227. | 462 | EATS |
| 228. | 461 | REDS SCAT |
| 230. | 460 | OLLA OSSA |
| 232. | 459 | STLO |
| 233. | 458 | AVON TIRE |
| 235. | 457 | TEAR TROT |
| 237. | 456 | TRES |
| 238. | 455 | MERE OGEE |
| 240. | 454 | SODA |
| 241. | 453 | AIDA |
| 242. | 451 | AJAR IRAE IVAN TRAP |
| 246. | 450 | SOSO |
| 247. | 449 | TALE |
| 248. | 447 | LANE |
| 249. | 446 | AMIE ARGO ICON |
| 252. | 444 | REDO |
| 253. | 443 | NINE SASS |
| 255. | 442 | EMMA STAY |
| 257. | 441 | USED |
| 258. | 440 | ASTO ETAT TRUE |
| 261. | 439 | ARTE OMAN SPAT STEN USES |
| 266. | 437 | LATE |
| 267. | 435 | ACID ROAR SOLE |
| 270. | 434 | AHAB ETES |
| 272. | 433 | SEAT |
| 273. | 432 | ELIS HERO URSA |
| 276. | 431 | ALOT TARA |
| 278. | 429 | NATO |
| 279. | 428 | AGED |
| 280. | 426 | ETAS LESS NETS RISE |
| 284. | 425 | ARLO IAGO SEMI |
| 287. | 424 | TALC |
| 288. | 423 | NORA |
| 289. | 422 | EYES HERE SANE |
| 292. | 420 | RANT |
| 293. | 419 | SPAS |
| 294. | 418 | SEAL |
| 295. | 416 | NOTE |
| 296. | 415 | DATA LIRA |
| 298. | 414 | NANA NOEL |
| 300. | 413 | SATE |
| 301. | 412 | ASIS ROSE |
| 303. | 411 | ESNE RITE |
| 305. | 410 | HALO |
| 306. | 409 | ARNE SEED SPOT TETE |
| 310. | 408 | EXIT SARA TONE |
| 313. | 407 | AMID RACE |
| 315. | 406 | SIRE |
| 316. | 405 | LAVA ODDS UNTO |
| 319. | 404 | ANTA |
| 320. | 403 | ORCA |
| 321. | 402 | AMAH ASPS SORE |
| 324. | 401 | ADDS MESS NONE RAIN |
| 328. | 400 | NAME |
| 329. | 399 | ATEE GENE REIN RILE SLAT |
| 334. | 398 | ALIA SNEE |
| 336. | 397 | EONS INGE |
| 338. | 395 | ARIL LORE MESA UTES |
| 342. | 394 | TATA |
| 343. | 393 | APES |
| 344. | 391 | HARE SCAN SPED |
| 347. | 390 | ALPS |
| 348. | 388 | EMIL LENS |
| 350. | 386 | SCOT SOLO |
| 352. | 385 | CREE UPON |
| 354. | 384 | ALDA AUTO |
| 356. | 383 | ELMO |
| 357. | 382 | PERU SALT |
| 359. | 381 | LEAR |
| 360. | 380 | MENU |
| 361. | 379 | ATTA |
| 362. | 378 | CEDE LINE OMNI |
| 365. | 377 | AGOG PLEA |
| 367. | 376 | EGOS NOON RITA |
| 370. | 375 | LION |
| 371. | 374 | SLOT UNDO YEAR |
| 374. | 373 | EDDY |
| 375. | 372 | ETUI TENT |
| 377. | 371 | EDIE |
| 378. | 370 | ANAT EBON REAP |
| 381. | 369 | ABUT TARO |
| 383. | 368 | ADES ALAE SAGA |
| 386. | 367 | EAVE SITE |
| 388. | 366 | HERA SNIP |
| 390. | 365 | SPAN |
| 391. | 364 | SNOW SSTS |
| 393. | 363 | SNAG |
| 394. | 362 | EASY ETTU LAIR OMOO |
| 398. | 361 | ARCH READ TEES |
| 401. | 360 | AHEM AKIN ESTA LENT NEMO YALE |
| 407. | 359 | ERIS RAGE RASP |
| 410. | 358 | AWOL PEER RAIL SHOE |
| 414. | 357 | ROTE SILO TORE USSR |
| 418. | 356 | OISE |
| 419. | 355 | MEET |
| 420. | 354 | GNAT OATS |
| 422. | 353 | ALMA |
| 423. | 352 | ATTU SEES |
| 425. | 350 | OATH |
| 426. | 349 | ETCH ROSA |
| 428. | 348 | ACNE APER LONE TELE |
| 432. | 347 | RAVE SLAP |
| 434. | 346 | LAST |
| 435. | 345 | ABBA OARS TITO |
| 438. | 344 | SEAS SEND |
| 440. | 343 | ORNE |
| 441. | 342 | ROME |
| 442. | 341 | DEED |
| 443. | 339 | IONA LIEN RATS SECT TILE |
| 448. | 338 | ANNO |
| 449. | 337 | ITAL NINA OAHU SETA |
| 453. | 336 | NENE TENS |
| 455. | 335 | ELBA |
| 456. | 334 | EWES SMEE |
| 458. | 333 | ASAP DEAR GLEE ORLE TOSS |
| 463. | 332 | DARE NASA SLAM |
| 466. | 331 | GALA LAIC |
| 468. | 330 | ESSO RICE |
| 470. | 329 | STER |
| 471. | 328 | AARE AVID EGGS ESPY EZRA ICER |
| 477. | 327 | ASKS ISIS SORT |
| 480. | 325 | LEAN LEES NEER RELY TEND |
| 485. | 324 | CITE GEAR LACE TAPE |
| 489. | 323 | HAHA LASS OKRA |
| 492. | 322 | ALTA EDER IMAM IVES |
| 496. | 321 | EACH OAST PETE |
| 499. | 320 | ADAR ROOT SAGE TRAM UCLA |
| 504. | 319 | ECCE LESE ROSS |
| 507. | 318 | ADIT AQUA DEAN SELL |
| 511. | 317 | PSST SEEP STUN |
| 514. | 316 | DENT ELIE ONLY PAPA RANI RARA SAME TINE |
| 522. | 315 | AINT LAOS |
| 524. | 314 | ISNT |
| 525. | 313 | AFRO IDEE INNS TEAL |
| 529. | 312 | CASE MEAT PEST ROMA SASH SEAR SPIN |
| 536. | 311 | LAMA METE NICE SMOG |
| 540. | 310 | ACTA DALI INON LENO MAMA NAIL STOW |
| 547. | 309 | ACER AGER BALI HONE ICES SINE |
| 553. | 307 | EDDA |
| 554. | 306 | OLES OXEN SLAV |
| 557. | 305 | PERT SAAR SIAM |
| 560. | 304 | ABIE IRAS RASH RIDE TART |
| 565. | 303 | OLGA |
| 566. | 302 | AMOK DATE ROAN |
| 569. | 301 | ALUM ARCS ELLS HALE LOLA |
| 574. | 300 | AGUE SHEA |
| 576. | 299 | AMMO NOVA SOAR |
| 579. | 298 | ASSN IRMA LEVI PLAN RIGA |
| 584. | 297 | EVES PESO SLEW TAXI THOR |
| 589. | 296 | TAME |
| 590. | 295 | AMAT AXLE DENS IBIS ROAD SLAB |
| 596. | 294 | ABED APED DELE EINE ENNA TEAS |
| 602. | 292 | ICED LIMA PASS RAPT |
| 606. | 291 | ARMS EYRE LEON |
| 609. | 290 | IRES LEAP NOAH OBEY SETH SOHO |
| 615. | 289 | ARTY EURO OBIT REAM RULE TROD |
| 621. | 288 | CARE INIT TAIL TERN |
| 625. | 287 | ATEN HIRE ILES RIPE |
| 629. | 286 | ANET ILLS NEAP OTIC SLIT |
| 634. | 285 | IOWA LEST OLAF TORO |
| 638. | 284 | DIET RAID REND SHAH TOAD |
| 643. | 283 | AIRS DENY ELON ERMA POET TEEM |
| 649. | 282 | AIRE BETA SHED |
| 652. | 281 | CENT EBRO TRIP |
| 655. | 280 | ALLA DIAL SNIT SOAP SOME |
| 660. | 279 | EBAN EYED LIES SAVE TOGA |
| 665. | 278 | CRAB ELEE POLO TBAR TOTE |
| 670. | 277 | RTES |
| 671. | 276 | ACED BASE RUIN SIDE |
| 675. | 275 | DESK ECON ELMS FREE LEDA LIST NAST |
| 682. | 274 | SHAM |
| 683. | 273 | ABCS DEAL OVID RIAL |
| 687. | 272 | HOLE TOES |
| 689. | 271 | SURE |
| 690. | 270 | ABOU COLA EERO SAFE TACT TEAM TIDE TIME TUNA |
| 699. | 269 | MAGI OONA PIER SOON TREK |
| 704. | 268 | ROLL SNOB TODO |
| 707. | 267 | AVOW CAST LARA TERM |
| 711. | 266 | LIME PANE RHEA |
| 714. | 265 | AMIR TELL |
| 716. | 264 | DAIS DEEP DORA MARE MIEN PEAR |
| 722. | 263 | ALOU OILS SAIL SEAN URNS UVEA |
| 728. | 262 | ONEA YENS |
| 730. | 261 | ALGA APIA AUNT MOOR |
| 734. | 260 | ALLY AMOI DRAT HAIR PALE |
| 739. | 259 | ACTI AILS ARAM DADA LEAD NONO |
| 745. | 258 | ANDY HOSE RING |
| 748. | 257 | EKES EXAM PARE SLUR WEST |
| 753. | 256 | CLAM LOSE RYES SOFA |
| 757. | 255 | BEST DIOR ENOL ENTO RODE TOTO URIS |
| 764. | 254 | LAME MASS NAPE TINT |
| 768. | 253 | HORA OPTS OPUS TAOS |
| 772. | 252 | EXES HATE LANA SEAM TALL TERI |
| 778. | 251 | THAI TREY |
| 780. | 250 | LIRE ROPE SLIP TACO TATE |
| 785. | 249 | ELKS EVAN PAIR RANG TRIM |
| 790. | 248 | BASS HULA POSE TOME |
| 794. | 247 | CLAN LAMB LEND MARS MAST MATE ONIT OOZE REEF ROVE SEEM TASS |
| 806. | 246 | ABAS DELI RATA ROBE |
| 810. | 245 | BEER DANE EGIS NELL |
| 814. | 244 | AGIO HENS MARC OKIE |
| 818. | 243 | ALII CHAR LEAH LODE |
| 822. | 242 | LOAN LOVE LURE TARE |
| 826. | 241 | ALOP CASH DEEM ITCH LETS MANE MEAN PAST PATE |
| 835. | 240 | ATIT BRIE PERE |
| 838. | 239 | GATE TOOL WREN |
| 841. | 238 | DART HOPI LIEU MINE ORSO PINE SERB TINA |
| 849. | 237 | AVIS IBAR NEWS PERI SWAN |
| 854. | 236 | APEX CRAM DISC MEAL OLEG THEE |
| 860. | 235 | ASHY ATON NAPA ROIL SOOT SWAT |
| 866. | 234 | CONE KNOT LOOT MORE NORM PACE PEEL TUTU |
| 874. | 233 | CORE DESI LOST SYNE |
| 878. | 232 | AMIS CANE DOOR ENTE LOON NYET PISA SEGO THAT |
| 887. | 231 | AEON AVEC EMUS IONS OLDS PACT RAFT ROUE SCAM TUNE |
| 897. | 230 | DIRE SHOO YORE |
| 900. | 229 | LAHR NOME SALA |
| 903. | 228 | DROP HERR PAGE PARA SAND |
| 908. | 227 | CHAP EBBS GLEN HERS NEWT SLAW TORT |
| 915. | 226 | AXIS DOER ITSA MESH OSHA OUST SAPS |
| 922. | 225 | AVES BESS CANT ERNS GASP LISA ORBS PORE RAMA ROSY SHOP YETI |
| 934. | 224 | AMER LINT RAMP SPIT |
| 938. | 223 | ADOS CAMP CASA ELAL NOTA |
| 943. | 222 | COAT CODA DRIP RAKE ROOM SANS SPEE TIES TMEN |
| 952. | 221 | AROW CHAT CHIC ROAM |
| 956. | 220 | ARKS EELY ERGS HASP ODEA PLOT |
| 962. | 219 | ITIS LARD |
| 964. | 218 | BEET BRER INCH NOUN ROUT RUSE |
| 970. | 217 | AHOY BARE CLAP EARP EKED ELBE GLAD LAND LEIS MEMO NEIL NERD OPEC SHAG SLIM |
| 985. | 216 | AWAY CATO EDGY LOGE NCAA NOIR SIRS SONS TARS TAUT |
| 995. | 215 | LASH POLE SLAG WERE |
| 999. | 214 | ENDO FETE |