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. | 1,576 | AREA |
| 2. | 1,412 | ERIE |
| 3. | 1,242 | ARIA |
| 4. | 1,206 | ALOE |
| 5. | 1,185 | ANTE |
| 6. | 1,130 | EDEN |
| 7. | 1,125 | ELSE |
| 8. | 1,055 | STAR |
| 9. | 1,046 | IDEA |
| 10. | 1,027 | ORAL |
| 11. | 963 | ALAS |
| 12. | 946 | EASE |
| 13. | 943 | ASEA |
| 14. | 932 | ALEE |
| 15. | 927 | EROS |
| 16. | 922 | TREE |
| 17. | 915 | ODOR |
| 18. | 906 | TSAR |
| 19. | 883 | ENOS |
| 20. | 882 | ACRE |
| 21. | 876 | OLEO |
| 22. | 872 | IRON |
| 23. | 860 | ANTI STIR |
| 25. | 858 | OMAR |
| 26. | 855 | ESSE |
| 27. | 851 | ANON ETON |
| 29. | 849 | AMEN ETAL |
| 31. | 847 | ONES |
| 32. | 838 | ASIA |
| 33. | 827 | ESTE |
| 34. | 825 | ERIN |
| 35. | 823 | OBOE |
| 36. | 815 | ONCE |
| 37. | 811 | ENDS |
| 38. | 807 | ETNA |
| 39. | 805 | ARES |
| 40. | 800 | ELAN |
| 41. | 799 | ERAS |
| 42. | 792 | ANNE |
| 43. | 780 | ALAI |
| 44. | 774 | IRAN |
| 45. | 759 | EDIT |
| 46. | 756 | ECHO |
| 47. | 755 | IDOL |
| 48. | 744 | ALTO |
| 49. | 743 | INRE |
| 50. | 741 | EPEE ERSE |
| 52. | 738 | AERO |
| 53. | 737 | ENID |
| 54. | 735 | ELIA |
| 55. | 733 | RARE |
| 56. | 727 | EAST ISLE |
| 58. | 726 | ETTE |
| 59. | 713 | ETRE |
| 60. | 709 | EDGE |
| 61. | 708 | EVER |
| 62. | 707 | ALEC |
| 63. | 702 | REST |
| 64. | 699 | ABLE |
| 65. | 698 | ACHE |
| 66. | 697 | ADAM |
| 67. | 694 | ALAN |
| 68. | 693 | NEST |
| 69. | 689 | ELLA NERO |
| 71. | 688 | ISEE |
| 72. | 686 | ALIT OSLO |
| 74. | 685 | ARAB |
| 75. | 684 | EIRE |
| 76. | 682 | EMIT IDLE |
| 78. | 681 | ATOM ITEM |
| 80. | 678 | ABET EVIL |
| 82. | 677 | OPAL |
| 83. | 670 | AVER |
| 84. | 662 | RENO |
| 85. | 660 | ARID OVER |
| 87. | 655 | ERIC |
| 88. | 652 | AONE INTO |
| 90. | 648 | APSE |
| 91. | 643 | NEAT UNIT |
| 93. | 642 | OTTO |
| 94. | 640 | SNAP |
| 95. | 637 | IOTA |
| 96. | 636 | OMEN |
| 97. | 635 | RENE |
| 98. | 633 | OGRE |
| 99. | 632 | OMIT |
| 100. | 631 | OLIO |
| 101. | 629 | AFAR |
| 102. | 628 | ORES |
| 103. | 626 | ELSA STEP |
| 105. | 622 | EMIR |
| 106. | 621 | SLED STET |
| 108. | 620 | ONTO |
| 109. | 614 | ABEL |
| 110. | 612 | ASHE |
| 111. | 611 | ALES ESAU |
| 113. | 610 | EVEN |
| 114. | 607 | ADEN ARTS |
| 116. | 606 | OVAL |
| 117. | 604 | NEAR NESS OPEN |
| 120. | 602 | ONER |
| 121. | 596 | URAL |
| 122. | 595 | ANNA |
| 123. | 591 | OTIS YSER |
| 125. | 590 | ERNE |
| 126. | 589 | ALSO |
| 127. | 588 | AMOR |
| 128. | 585 | ARAL IRIS |
| 130. | 584 | SPAR |
| 131. | 583 | ERLE SCAR |
| 133. | 582 | STEM |
| 134. | 580 | REED |
| 135. | 577 | SERE |
| 136. | 575 | URGE |
| 137. | 574 | ATOP |
| 138. | 571 | EPIC UTAH |
| 140. | 569 | ERRS |
| 141. | 566 | IGOR |
| 142. | 564 | ANEW ASTI |
| 144. | 562 | ANTS |
| 145. | 560 | NEON |
| 146. | 559 | EDNA |
| 147. | 558 | AGRA |
| 148. | 556 | ERAT |
| 149. | 554 | AGAR STOP |
| 151. | 553 | RENT |
| 152. | 551 | NEED |
| 153. | 548 | AMOS LIAR |
| 155. | 547 | EDAM |
| 156. | 546 | USER |
| 157. | 544 | ODES |
| 158. | 540 | KNEE |
| 159. | 539 | NILE |
| 160. | 537 | AURA |
| 161. | 535 | REAR |
| 162. | 533 | ASTA |
| 163. | 532 | RATE |
| 164. | 531 | ELLE |
| 165. | 530 | AIDE STAN |
| 167. | 528 | ERST TRIO |
| 169. | 527 | EARN |
| 170. | 524 | ACES OREL |
| 172. | 522 | ECRU ORAN |
| 174. | 520 | ETTA |
| 175. | 519 | SEER |
| 176. | 511 | TEST |
| 177. | 510 | AGES |
| 178. | 507 | ALAR |
| 179. | 506 | ROLE SENT SLOE |
| 182. | 505 | ARNO |
| 183. | 504 | AGEE |
| 184. | 503 | OTOE |
| 185. | 500 | SERA |
| 186. | 499 | RIOT |
| 187. | 498 | OVEN |
| 188. | 497 | OREO SETS |
| 190. | 496 | ACTS |
| 191. | 495 | STAT |
| 192. | 493 | SEEN |
| 193. | 492 | OGLE STAG |
| 195. | 491 | ITER |
| 196. | 487 | STOA |
| 197. | 485 | EGAD INCA |
| 199. | 483 | EELS ERGO REEL STEW |
| 203. | 482 | LENA |
| 204. | 480 | STAB |
| 205. | 479 | DEER |
| 206. | 478 | ASST EWER ODIN |
| 209. | 475 | ONUS TIER |
| 211. | 473 | ANIL ODER |
| 213. | 472 | LEER |
| 214. | 471 | ACME AMES EARL |
| 217. | 469 | IDES |
| 218. | 466 | SALE |
| 219. | 465 | REAL TESS |
| 221. | 464 | OHIO |
| 222. | 460 | OLLA ULNA |
| 224. | 459 | EATS STLO |
| 226. | 458 | NOSE OSSA |
| 228. | 455 | TEAR |
| 229. | 454 | REDS TROT |
| 231. | 453 | EARS SARI TEEN |
| 234. | 452 | AVON SCAT |
| 236. | 451 | AIDA IRAE OGEE |
| 239. | 450 | TIRE |
| 240. | 448 | MERE TRAP |
| 242. | 447 | IVAN |
| 243. | 446 | SODA TRES |
| 245. | 445 | SOSO |
| 246. | 444 | AJAR TALE |
| 248. | 443 | AMIE |
| 249. | 442 | ARGO |
| 250. | 441 | ICON LANE |
| 252. | 439 | STEN |
| 253. | 438 | REDO |
| 254. | 437 | USED |
| 255. | 436 | ARTE |
| 256. | 435 | EMMA ETAT SPAT |
| 259. | 434 | TRUE |
| 260. | 433 | NINE |
| 261. | 432 | OMAN SOLE STAY |
| 264. | 431 | ROAR SASS |
| 266. | 430 | ASTO ETES HERO |
| 269. | 429 | ELIS SEAT TARA |
| 272. | 428 | ACID |
| 273. | 427 | LATE USES |
| 275. | 426 | AHAB |
| 276. | 424 | URSA |
| 277. | 423 | ALOT |
| 278. | 421 | TALC |
| 279. | 420 | AGED LESS NETS NORA RISE |
| 284. | 419 | NATO |
| 285. | 417 | IAGO |
| 286. | 416 | ETAS RANT SANE |
| 289. | 415 | LIRA |
| 290. | 414 | SPAS |
| 291. | 413 | EYES SEMI |
| 293. | 412 | NOEL |
| 294. | 411 | DATA ESNE SEAL |
| 297. | 410 | ARLO HERE |
| 299. | 409 | ARNE |
| 300. | 408 | ROSE |
| 301. | 407 | HALO NOTE RITE SATE |
| 305. | 406 | ASIS |
| 306. | 405 | SEED |
| 307. | 404 | ANTA NANA RACE |
| 310. | 402 | AMAH AMID EXIT SARA SIRE TONE |
| 316. | 401 | TETE |
| 317. | 400 | UNTO |
| 318. | 399 | ATEE LAVA |
| 320. | 397 | RAIN SNEE SORE |
| 323. | 396 | INGE |
| 324. | 395 | ALIA GENE NONE REIN RILE SPOT |
| 330. | 394 | MESS NAME ODDS |
| 333. | 393 | ARIL LORE |
| 335. | 392 | ADDS UTES |
| 337. | 391 | ASPS MESA SLAT |
| 340. | 390 | EONS |
| 341. | 389 | APES |
| 342. | 388 | HARE |
| 343. | 387 | TATA |
| 344. | 385 | EMIL ORCA SPED |
| 347. | 384 | LENS |
| 348. | 383 | ALPS SCAN |
| 350. | 381 | CREE SCOT SOLO UPON |
| 354. | 380 | AUTO |
| 355. | 379 | ALDA |
| 356. | 378 | LEAR |
| 357. | 377 | ELMO |
| 358. | 376 | PERU SALT |
| 360. | 374 | LINE |
| 361. | 372 | NOON |
| 362. | 371 | CEDE ETUI LION |
| 365. | 370 | AGOG ANAT EDDY MENU |
| 369. | 369 | EBON RITA SLOT YEAR |
| 373. | 368 | ALAE TENT |
| 375. | 367 | EGOS UNDO |
| 377. | 366 | ATTA PLEA |
| 379. | 364 | ADES TARO |
| 381. | 363 | EAVE OMNI SITE SNIP SSTS |
| 386. | 362 | SAGA SPAN |
| 388. | 361 | EDIE HERA OMOO REAP SNAG |
| 393. | 359 | ABUT |
| 394. | 358 | EASY ERIS SNOW |
| 397. | 357 | AKIN ETTU READ |
| 400. | 356 | OISE |
| 401. | 355 | AHEM LAIR PEER RAGE YALE |
| 406. | 354 | NEMO SILO |
| 408. | 353 | ESTA ROTE |
| 410. | 352 | ARCH ATTU GNAT RAIL RASP |
| 415. | 351 | LENT SHOE |
| 417. | 350 | AWOL |
| 418. | 349 | TEES TORE USSR |
| 421. | 348 | APER MEET OATS |
| 424. | 346 | ALMA TELE |
| 426. | 345 | LONE RAVE |
| 428. | 344 | LAST OATH SEES TITO |
| 432. | 343 | ORNE ROSA |
| 434. | 340 | SEND SLAP |
| 436. | 339 | ABBA OARS ROME |
| 439. | 338 | ETCH |
| 440. | 337 | ACNE ANNO IONA SEAS SECT SETA |
| 446. | 336 | DEED LIEN |
| 448. | 335 | TILE |
| 449. | 334 | RATS |
| 450. | 333 | ORLE SMEE |
| 452. | 332 | ITAL |
| 453. | 331 | DEAR ELBA LAIC |
| 456. | 330 | OAHU TENS TOSS |
| 459. | 329 | NINA SLAM STER |
| 462. | 328 | AARE GLEE |
| 464. | 327 | NASA |
| 465. | 326 | EWES ICER RICE |
| 468. | 325 | EGGS GALA NEER NENE |
| 472. | 324 | EZRA LEES |
| 474. | 323 | DARE |
| 475. | 322 | CITE EDER ESPY LACE |
| 479. | 321 | AVID IVES |
| 481. | 320 | ADAR ESSO ISIS TAPE |
| 485. | 319 | ASAP ASKS LEAN LESE OAST RELY SORT |
| 492. | 318 | PETE TEND |
| 494. | 317 | ADIT GEAR ROSS |
| 497. | 316 | EACH ECCE HAHA LASS OKRA RANI ROOT |
| 504. | 315 | IMAM ONLY RARA SAGE SAME SELL |
| 510. | 314 | ALTA AQUA DEAN TRAM |
| 514. | 313 | SEEP STUN |
| 516. | 312 | DENT ELIE IDEE TEAL UCLA |
| 521. | 311 | AINT |
| 522. | 310 | ACTA LAOS SPIN TINE |
| 526. | 309 | INNS LAMA MEAT NICE |
| 530. | 308 | DALI METE NAIL PAPA |
| 534. | 307 | BALI SASH |
| 536. | 306 | INON LENO |
| 538. | 305 | AGER EDDA ICES MAMA ROMA SAAR SINE STOW |
| 546. | 304 | ISNT OXEN SEAR SLAV |
| 550. | 303 | ABIE AFRO OLES PERT PEST |
| 555. | 302 | ACER CASE SMOG TART |
| 559. | 301 | DATE HONE SIAM |
| 562. | 300 | AGUE ARCS ELLS HALE IRAS |
| 567. | 298 | AMOK IRMA RIDE ROAN |
| 571. | 297 | OLGA |
| 572. | 296 | ASSN LOLA PSST RASH SOAR |
| 577. | 295 | AMMO LEVI RIGA |
| 580. | 294 | ABED ALUM AMAT ENNA PESO PLAN SHEA |
| 587. | 293 | DELE NOVA TAXI THOR |
| 591. | 292 | DENS |
| 592. | 291 | AXLE EINE RAPT ROAD SLAB SLEW TAME |
| 599. | 290 | IBIS ICED LIMA |
| 602. | 289 | IRES PASS |
| 604. | 288 | APED EVES LEON REAM RULE |
| 609. | 287 | ARTY ILES LEAP TROD |
| 613. | 286 | ATEN SOHO TERN |
| 616. | 285 | ANET CARE HIRE INIT OBIT OTIC TAIL TEAS |
| 624. | 284 | ARMS NOAH REND SLIT |
| 628. | 283 | NEAP OBEY SETH |
| 631. | 282 | AIRE LEST RAID SHAH |
| 635. | 281 | EBRO EURO EYRE RIPE TRIP |
| 640. | 280 | ERMA ILLS TEEM |
| 643. | 279 | BETA CENT OLAF SHED TOAD TORO |
| 649. | 278 | DENY DIAL EBAN ELEE IOWA |
| 654. | 277 | AIRS ALLA EYED POET |
| 658. | 276 | SAVE SOAP |
| 660. | 275 | DIET ELON SIDE SOME |
| 664. | 274 | CRAB LEDA LIES SNIT TBAR TOGA TOTE |
| 671. | 272 | LIST RIAL RTES RUIN SHAM |
| 676. | 271 | ELMS FREE POLO |
| 679. | 270 | ABOU ACED BASE EERO OVID |
| 684. | 269 | DESK NAST TOES TREK |
| 688. | 268 | OONA |
| 689. | 267 | DEAL ECON SAFE SOON TACT |
| 694. | 266 | ABCS CAST HOLE MAGI TEAM TIME TUNA |
| 701. | 265 | COLA ROLL SNOB SURE |
| 705. | 264 | LIME PIER TIDE |
| 708. | 263 | AMIR AVOW |
| 710. | 262 | DORA MARE ONEA PANE SAIL TODO |
| 716. | 261 | ALGA DAIS MIEN PEAR RHEA UVEA |
| 722. | 260 | ALOU AMOI APIA DEEP LARA SEAN TERM URNS |
| 730. | 259 | TELL |
| 731. | 258 | ALLY ARAM MOOR YENS |
| 735. | 257 | OILS |
| 736. | 256 | EXAM HAIR LOSE PALE RING |
| 741. | 255 | ANDY AUNT DADA DRAT ENTO HOSE URIS WEST |
| 749. | 254 | AILS ENOL LEAD NONO |
| 753. | 253 | ACTI DIOR PARE SLUR TINT |
| 758. | 252 | BEST LAME TOTO |
| 761. | 251 | CLAM EKES HATE MASS NAPE OPTS RODE RYES |
| 769. | 250 | SEAM TAOS |
| 771. | 249 | HORA LIRE OPUS ROPE SOFA TERI |
| 777. | 248 | EXES |
| 778. | 247 | HULA TALL TATE |
| 781. | 246 | ABAS CLAN EVAN LANA RANG SLIP TACO TASS TOME TRIM |
| 791. | 245 | EGIS LAMB POSE RATA ROBE THAI TREY |
| 798. | 244 | AGIO ELKS MARC MATE NELL OOZE REEF |
| 805. | 243 | DANE ROVE SEEM |
| 808. | 242 | ALII BASS LEND MARS MAST PAIR |
| 814. | 241 | CHAR LOVE |
| 816. | 240 | ALOP BEER DELI LURE OKIE ONIT TARE |
| 823. | 239 | HENS LEAH LOAN MANE MEAN PATE |
| 829. | 238 | LETS LODE |
| 831. | 237 | DEEM IBAR MINE PERE PERI |
| 836. | 236 | BRIE CASH OLEG PAST PINE TOOL WREN |
| 843. | 235 | AVIS DART |
| 845. | 234 | ITCH NEWS SERB SOOT |
| 849. | 233 | CRAM GATE HOPI KNOT MEAL TINA |
| 855. | 232 | APEX ENTE NAPA PEEL PISA SWAT |
| 861. | 231 | ATIT LOST NORM PACE SEGO SWAN SYNE THEE |
| 869. | 230 | AEON CANE CORE LIEU MORE ROIL ROUE |
| 876. | 229 | DISC LAHR LOON ORSO RAFT TUTU |
| 882. | 228 | ASHY DESI DOOR HERR IONS LOOT OLDS |
| 889. | 227 | AMIS CONE EMUS PACT PAGE PARA SALA THAT TUNE |
| 898. | 226 | AVEC CHAP DIRE DROP EBBS ITSA NOME |
| 905. | 225 | ATON CANT SAND SLAW TORT YORE |
| 911. | 224 | BESS DOER ERNS NYET RAMP ROSY |
| 917. | 223 | AVES GLEN LINT LISA MESH PORE RAMA SHOP SPIT |
| 926. | 222 | AMER AXIS GASP ORBS RAKE SAPS SCAM SHOO SPEE TMEN |
| 936. | 221 | ELAL NEWT |
| 938. | 220 | ADOS AROW CAMP COAT |
| 942. | 219 | CHAT CODA EELY HASP NOTA ODEA OUST ROOM YETI |
| 951. | 218 | ARKS CASA ERGS HERS LARD SANS |
| 957. | 217 | DRIP OSHA PLOT TIES |
| 961. | 216 | BRER ELBE GLAD ITIS ROAM |
| 966. | 215 | BARE EARP LOGE SIRS |
| 970. | 214 | CHIC ENDO INCH LASH NCAA NERD NOUN OPEC ROUT RUSE SHAG SLIM |
| 982. | 213 | CATO DALE EDGY LEIS PENS PEON SIGN SONS TARS TAUT WERE |
| 993. | 212 | ARAT BEET CLAP EKED OLAN RIND SLAG |