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. | 1,605 | AREA |
| 2. | 1,435 | ERIE |
| 3. | 1,248 | ARIA |
| 4. | 1,225 | ALOE |
| 5. | 1,204 | ANTE |
| 6. | 1,149 | ELSE |
| 7. | 1,148 | EDEN |
| 8. | 1,072 | STAR |
| 9. | 1,058 | IDEA |
| 10. | 1,045 | ORAL |
| 11. | 977 | ALAS |
| 12. | 963 | EASE |
| 13. | 953 | ASEA |
| 14. | 942 | EROS |
| 15. | 933 | ALEE |
| 16. | 932 | ODOR |
| 17. | 931 | TREE |
| 18. | 922 | TSAR |
| 19. | 904 | ACRE |
| 20. | 896 | ENOS |
| 21. | 880 | IRON OLEO |
| 23. | 874 | ANTI |
| 24. | 870 | STIR |
| 25. | 868 | ETON |
| 26. | 865 | OMAR |
| 27. | 863 | AMEN ETAL |
| 29. | 861 | ANON |
| 30. | 857 | ESSE |
| 31. | 856 | ONES |
| 32. | 853 | ASIA |
| 33. | 837 | OBOE |
| 34. | 833 | ERIN |
| 35. | 831 | ESTE ONCE |
| 37. | 823 | ENDS |
| 38. | 820 | ETNA |
| 39. | 815 | ERAS |
| 40. | 813 | ARES |
| 41. | 809 | ELAN |
| 42. | 803 | ANNE |
| 43. | 784 | IRAN |
| 44. | 783 | ALAI |
| 45. | 777 | EDIT |
| 46. | 769 | ECHO |
| 47. | 764 | IDOL |
| 48. | 757 | EPEE |
| 49. | 752 | ALTO INRE |
| 51. | 747 | AERO |
| 52. | 744 | EAST |
| 53. | 743 | ERSE RARE |
| 55. | 742 | ENID |
| 56. | 741 | ELIA |
| 57. | 735 | ISLE |
| 58. | 728 | ETTE |
| 59. | 724 | ETRE |
| 60. | 717 | EDGE |
| 61. | 716 | EVER |
| 62. | 714 | ALEC |
| 63. | 710 | ISEE REST |
| 65. | 707 | ABLE ADAM |
| 67. | 706 | ACHE |
| 68. | 702 | NEST |
| 69. | 699 | ELLA IDLE |
| 71. | 698 | OSLO |
| 72. | 697 | ALAN |
| 73. | 696 | ALIT EMIT |
| 75. | 694 | ATOM |
| 76. | 693 | ARAB NERO |
| 78. | 692 | ITEM |
| 79. | 690 | EIRE |
| 80. | 688 | ABET |
| 81. | 685 | EVIL |
| 82. | 684 | OPAL |
| 83. | 675 | AVER |
| 84. | 669 | ARID OVER RENO |
| 87. | 666 | ERIC |
| 88. | 659 | AONE INTO |
| 90. | 658 | APSE |
| 91. | 655 | UNIT |
| 92. | 650 | OMEN |
| 93. | 649 | IOTA |
| 94. | 647 | OTTO |
| 95. | 646 | NEAT OGRE SNAP |
| 98. | 643 | RENE |
| 99. | 642 | AFAR |
| 100. | 640 | OMIT ORES |
| 102. | 638 | STEP |
| 103. | 637 | ELSA |
| 104. | 635 | OLIO |
| 105. | 630 | EMIR ONTO SLED |
| 108. | 626 | STET |
| 109. | 622 | ESAU |
| 110. | 621 | ARTS |
| 111. | 620 | ALES ASHE |
| 113. | 619 | NESS OVAL |
| 115. | 618 | ABEL |
| 116. | 617 | OPEN |
| 117. | 616 | EVEN |
| 118. | 612 | ADEN NEAR |
| 120. | 603 | ONER |
| 121. | 602 | ANNA |
| 122. | 600 | ALSO OTIS |
| 124. | 599 | URAL |
| 125. | 598 | IRIS |
| 126. | 597 | AMOR |
| 127. | 593 | ARAL SCAR |
| 129. | 591 | YSER |
| 130. | 590 | ERNE |
| 131. | 589 | STEM |
| 132. | 587 | SPAR |
| 133. | 585 | ATOP REED |
| 135. | 584 | ERLE |
| 136. | 582 | EPIC |
| 137. | 581 | URGE |
| 138. | 580 | ANEW UTAH |
| 140. | 578 | ERRS SERE |
| 142. | 575 | ANTS NEON |
| 144. | 574 | ASTI |
| 145. | 572 | AGRA IGOR |
| 147. | 566 | EDNA |
| 148. | 563 | AGAR STOP |
| 150. | 561 | ERAT NEED |
| 152. | 558 | RENT |
| 153. | 557 | AMOS EDAM |
| 155. | 556 | LIAR |
| 156. | 555 | KNEE ODES USER |
| 159. | 548 | AURA |
| 160. | 544 | STAN |
| 161. | 543 | NILE |
| 162. | 541 | TRIO |
| 163. | 540 | ELLE |
| 164. | 538 | AIDE RATE REAR |
| 167. | 535 | ASTA |
| 168. | 533 | EARN |
| 169. | 532 | ACES |
| 170. | 531 | ECRU ERST |
| 172. | 528 | ETTA SEER |
| 174. | 525 | OREL |
| 175. | 523 | ORAN OREO |
| 177. | 519 | TEST |
| 178. | 518 | AGES |
| 179. | 512 | SLOE |
| 180. | 511 | OTOE ROLE SENT |
| 183. | 509 | ACTS |
| 184. | 508 | RIOT |
| 185. | 507 | ALAR ARNO OVEN |
| 188. | 506 | AGEE SETS |
| 190. | 505 | SERA STAT |
| 192. | 500 | STAG |
| 193. | 498 | SEEN |
| 194. | 496 | EELS OGLE |
| 196. | 492 | EGAD INCA REEL STEW |
| 200. | 491 | ITER |
| 201. | 489 | LENA |
| 202. | 488 | ERGO |
| 203. | 487 | STOA |
| 204. | 485 | ASST |
| 205. | 484 | ODIN ONUS |
| 207. | 483 | DEER EWER STAB |
| 210. | 481 | TIER |
| 211. | 480 | ACME |
| 212. | 479 | EARL |
| 213. | 476 | ANIL |
| 214. | 475 | AMES |
| 215. | 474 | IDES REAL |
| 217. | 473 | LEER ODER TESS |
| 220. | 471 | OHIO |
| 221. | 469 | SALE |
| 222. | 468 | ULNA |
| 223. | 466 | SARI |
| 224. | 465 | NOSE TEEN |
| 226. | 464 | EARS |
| 227. | 462 | EATS REDS SCAT |
| 230. | 460 | OLLA OSSA |
| 232. | 459 | STLO TIRE |
| 234. | 458 | AVON TEAR TRES TROT |
| 238. | 456 | MERE SODA |
| 240. | 455 | OGEE |
| 241. | 453 | AIDA |
| 242. | 452 | IVAN TRAP |
| 244. | 451 | AJAR IRAE TALE |
| 247. | 450 | SOSO |
| 248. | 447 | ARGO LANE |
| 250. | 446 | AMIE ICON |
| 252. | 445 | REDO SASS |
| 254. | 444 | NINE |
| 255. | 443 | EMMA |
| 256. | 442 | ASTO STAY USED |
| 259. | 441 | TRUE |
| 260. | 440 | ETAT SPAT |
| 262. | 439 | ARTE OMAN STEN USES |
| 266. | 437 | LATE |
| 267. | 436 | ACID ROAR |
| 269. | 435 | SOLE |
| 270. | 434 | AHAB ETES URSA |
| 273. | 433 | ELIS HERO SEAT |
| 276. | 432 | ALOT |
| 277. | 431 | TARA |
| 278. | 429 | AGED NATO |
| 280. | 428 | ETAS |
| 281. | 427 | LESS NETS |
| 283. | 426 | ARLO IAGO RISE |
| 286. | 425 | SEMI |
| 287. | 424 | EYES TALC |
| 289. | 423 | HERE NORA SANE |
| 292. | 421 | RANT |
| 293. | 420 | SPAS |
| 294. | 419 | SEAL |
| 295. | 417 | NOTE |
| 296. | 416 | DATA |
| 297. | 415 | LIRA NANA |
| 299. | 414 | ASIS NOEL SATE |
| 302. | 412 | ROSE |
| 303. | 411 | ESNE RITE |
| 305. | 410 | ARNE HALO |
| 307. | 409 | SEED SPOT TETE |
| 310. | 408 | EXIT RACE SARA TONE |
| 314. | 407 | AMID ODDS |
| 316. | 406 | SIRE |
| 317. | 405 | LAVA UNTO |
| 319. | 404 | ANTA ASPS |
| 321. | 403 | ADDS ORCA RAIN |
| 324. | 402 | AMAH MESS SORE |
| 327. | 401 | NAME NONE SLAT |
| 330. | 399 | ATEE GENE REIN RILE |
| 334. | 398 | ALIA SNEE UTES |
| 337. | 397 | EONS INGE |
| 339. | 395 | ARIL LORE MESA TATA |
| 343. | 394 | APES |
| 344. | 393 | SCAN |
| 345. | 391 | HARE SPED |
| 347. | 390 | ALPS |
| 348. | 389 | EMIL |
| 349. | 388 | LENS |
| 350. | 387 | SCOT |
| 351. | 386 | SOLO UPON |
| 353. | 385 | AUTO CREE SALT |
| 356. | 384 | ALDA ELMO |
| 358. | 382 | PERU |
| 359. | 381 | LEAR MENU |
| 361. | 380 | ATTA |
| 362. | 378 | CEDE LINE NOON OMNI |
| 366. | 377 | AGOG EGOS PLEA |
| 369. | 376 | RITA |
| 370. | 375 | LION UNDO |
| 372. | 374 | SLOT YEAR |
| 374. | 373 | EDDY TENT |
| 376. | 372 | ETUI |
| 377. | 371 | EDIE |
| 378. | 370 | ANAT EBON REAP TARO |
| 382. | 369 | ABUT SNIP |
| 384. | 368 | ADES ALAE EAVE SAGA |
| 388. | 367 | HERA SITE |
| 390. | 366 | SPAN |
| 391. | 365 | SNOW |
| 392. | 364 | LAIR SSTS |
| 394. | 363 | ETTU SNAG |
| 396. | 362 | AKIN ARCH EASY OMOO READ |
| 401. | 361 | ESTA LENT RAGE RASP TEES |
| 406. | 360 | AHEM NEMO YALE |
| 409. | 359 | AWOL ERIS RAIL SHOE |
| 413. | 358 | PEER ROTE TORE |
| 416. | 357 | SILO USSR |
| 418. | 356 | MEET OISE |
| 420. | 355 | OATS |
| 421. | 354 | GNAT |
| 422. | 353 | ALMA SEES |
| 424. | 352 | ATTU |
| 425. | 350 | ETCH OATH ROSA |
| 428. | 348 | ACNE APER LONE TELE |
| 432. | 347 | ABBA RAVE SLAP |
| 435. | 346 | LAST |
| 436. | 345 | OARS TITO |
| 438. | 344 | SEAS SEND |
| 440. | 343 | ORNE ROME |
| 442. | 341 | DEED |
| 443. | 340 | RATS |
| 444. | 339 | ANNO IONA LIEN SECT TILE |
| 449. | 338 | ELBA ITAL OAHU |
| 452. | 337 | NENE NINA SETA |
| 455. | 336 | TENS |
| 456. | 334 | ASAP EWES GLEE SMEE TOSS |
| 461. | 333 | DARE DEAR NASA ORLE SLAM |
| 466. | 332 | GALA |
| 467. | 331 | ESSO LAIC |
| 469. | 330 | RICE |
| 470. | 329 | ASKS AVID ESPY EZRA STER |
| 475. | 328 | AARE EGGS ICER ISIS |
| 479. | 327 | SORT |
| 480. | 326 | RELY TEND |
| 482. | 325 | LEAN LEES NEER TAPE |
| 486. | 324 | CITE GEAR HAHA IMAM LACE OKRA |
| 492. | 323 | ALTA LASS |
| 494. | 322 | EDER IVES |
| 496. | 321 | EACH OAST PETE SAGE TRAM |
| 501. | 320 | ADAR ROOT ROSS UCLA |
| 505. | 319 | DEAN ECCE LESE SELL |
| 509. | 318 | ADIT AQUA PSST |
| 512. | 317 | AINT ISNT SAME SEEP STUN |
| 517. | 316 | DENT ELIE LAOS ONLY PAPA RANI RARA TINE |
| 525. | 314 | AFRO INON SMOG TEAL |
| 529. | 313 | IDEE INNS LAMA SASH |
| 533. | 312 | ACER CASE MEAT PEST ROMA SEAR SPIN |
| 540. | 311 | METE NICE |
| 542. | 310 | ACTA BALI DALI ICES LENO MAMA NAIL STOW |
| 550. | 309 | AGER HONE SINE |
| 553. | 307 | EDDA |
| 554. | 306 | OLES OXEN SIAM SLAV |
| 558. | 305 | ABIE PERT SAAR |
| 561. | 304 | IRAS OLGA RASH RIDE TART |
| 566. | 303 | ROAN |
| 567. | 302 | ALUM AMOK ARCS DATE LOLA |
| 572. | 301 | ELLS HALE |
| 574. | 300 | AGUE RIGA SHEA |
| 577. | 299 | AMMO ASSN NOVA SOAR |
| 581. | 298 | IRMA LEVI PESO PLAN SLEW TAXI THOR |
| 588. | 297 | EVES IBIS |
| 590. | 296 | DENS ROAD SLAB TAME |
| 594. | 295 | AMAT APED AXLE |
| 597. | 294 | ABED DELE EINE ENNA ICED TEAS |
| 603. | 293 | EYRE LIMA |
| 605. | 292 | ARMS LEON NOAH PASS RAPT |
| 610. | 291 | SETH SOHO |
| 612. | 290 | ARTY IRES LEAP OBEY OBIT |
| 617. | 289 | CARE EURO REAM RULE TERN TROD |
| 623. | 288 | HIRE INIT TAIL |
| 626. | 287 | ATEN ILES RIPE |
| 629. | 286 | ANET ILLS IOWA NEAP OTIC SLIT |
| 635. | 285 | LEST OLAF TORO |
| 638. | 284 | AIRS DENY DIET ELON ERMA RAID REND SHAH TOAD |
| 647. | 283 | BETA POET SHED TEEM |
| 651. | 282 | AIRE SNIT |
| 653. | 281 | CENT EBRO SAVE SOAP TRIP |
| 658. | 280 | ALLA DIAL LIES SOME TOGA |
| 663. | 279 | EBAN EYED |
| 665. | 278 | CRAB ELEE POLO TBAR TOTE |
| 670. | 277 | ACED RTES |
| 672. | 276 | BASE LEDA NAST RUIN SIDE |
| 677. | 275 | DESK ECON ELMS FREE LIST SHAM |
| 683. | 274 | DEAL |
| 684. | 273 | ABCS HOLE OVID RIAL |
| 688. | 272 | TEAM TOES |
| 690. | 271 | SURE TIME TUNA |
| 693. | 270 | ABOU COLA EERO MAGI SAFE SOON TACT TIDE |
| 701. | 269 | CAST OONA PIER TODO TREK |
| 706. | 268 | ROLL SNOB |
| 708. | 267 | AVOW LARA LIME RHEA TERM |
| 713. | 266 | PANE TELL |
| 715. | 265 | AMIR DEEP DORA MIEN |
| 719. | 264 | DAIS MARE PEAR URNS |
| 723. | 263 | ALOU OILS SAIL SEAN UVEA YENS |
| 729. | 262 | AUNT ONEA |
| 731. | 261 | ACTI ALGA ALLY APIA MOOR |
| 736. | 260 | AMOI DRAT HAIR HOSE PALE |
| 741. | 259 | AILS ARAM DADA LEAD NONO |
| 746. | 258 | ANDY EKES RING |
| 749. | 257 | EXAM LOSE PARE SLUR SOFA WEST |
| 755. | 256 | CLAM MASS RYES |
| 758. | 255 | BEST DIOR ENOL ENTO LAME NAPE RODE TOTO URIS |
| 767. | 254 | OPTS TINT |
| 769. | 253 | HORA LANA OPUS SEAM TALL TAOS TERI THAI |
| 777. | 252 | EXES HATE |
| 779. | 251 | EVAN TREY |
| 781. | 250 | LIRE ROPE SLIP TACO TATE TRIM |
| 787. | 249 | CLAN ELKS HULA PAIR RANG TOME |
| 793. | 248 | BASS LAMB MATE OOZE POSE ROVE |
| 799. | 247 | DELI LEND MARS MAST NELL ONIT REEF SEEM TASS |
| 808. | 246 | ABAS ITCH RATA ROBE |
| 812. | 245 | BEER DANE EGIS MARC |
| 816. | 244 | AGIO HENS LEAH OKIE |
| 820. | 243 | ALII CHAR LODE LURE |
| 824. | 242 | LETS LOAN LOVE PAST TARE |
| 829. | 241 | ALOP CASH DEEM MANE MEAN PATE |
| 835. | 240 | ATIT BRIE GATE PERE |
| 839. | 239 | MINE PINE TOOL WREN |
| 843. | 238 | DART HOPI LIEU ORSO SERB SWAN TINA |
| 850. | 237 | ATON AVIS IBAR NEWS OLEG PERI |
| 856. | 236 | APEX CRAM DISC MEAL SWAT THEE |
| 862. | 235 | ASHY CONE KNOT MORE NAPA NORM ROIL SOOT TUTU |
| 871. | 234 | CORE DESI LOOT PACE PEEL |
| 876. | 233 | CANE LOON LOST SYNE |
| 880. | 232 | AMIS AVEC DOOR EMUS ENTE NYET PISA SCAM SEGO THAT |
| 890. | 231 | AEON IONS OLDS PACT RAFT ROUE SHOO TUNE |
| 898. | 230 | DIRE YORE |
| 900. | 229 | HERR LAHR NOME PARA SALA |
| 905. | 228 | DROP HERS PAGE SAND SLAW |
| 910. | 227 | AXIS CHAP EBBS GLEN NEWT OSHA SAPS TORT |
| 918. | 226 | CANT DOER ITSA MESH OUST YETI |
| 924. | 225 | ADOS AVES BESS ERNS GASP LISA ORBS PORE RAMA ROSY SHOP |
| 935. | 224 | AMER DRIP ELAL LINT RAMP SPIT |
| 941. | 223 | CAMP CASA COAT NOTA ROOM |
| 946. | 222 | CODA RAKE SANS SPEE TIES TMEN |
| 952. | 221 | ARKS AROW CHAT CHIC LARD PLOT ROAM |
| 959. | 220 | EELY ERGS HASP ITIS ODEA |
| 964. | 219 | MEMO SHAG |
| 966. | 218 | BEET BRER EKED INCH LAND LEIS NEIL NOUN OPEC ROUT RUSE SLIM |
| 978. | 217 | AHOY AWAY BARE CLAP EARP EDGY ELBE GLAD NERD NOIR PENS TARS TAUT |
| 991. | 216 | CATO LOGE NCAA SIRS SONS |
| 996. | 215 | LASH LOCO POLE SLAG WERE |