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. | 1,604 | AREA |
| 2. | 1,435 | ERIE |
| 3. | 1,248 | ARIA |
| 4. | 1,224 | ALOE |
| 5. | 1,203 | ANTE |
| 6. | 1,148 | EDEN |
| 7. | 1,146 | ELSE |
| 8. | 1,071 | STAR |
| 9. | 1,058 | IDEA |
| 10. | 1,045 | ORAL |
| 11. | 977 | ALAS |
| 12. | 961 | 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. | 873 | ANTI |
| 24. | 870 | STIR |
| 25. | 867 | ETON |
| 26. | 865 | OMAR |
| 27. | 862 | AMEN |
| 28. | 861 | ETAL |
| 29. | 860 | ANON |
| 30. | 857 | ESSE |
| 31. | 856 | ONES |
| 32. | 852 | ASIA |
| 33. | 837 | OBOE |
| 34. | 833 | ERIN |
| 35. | 831 | ESTE ONCE |
| 37. | 823 | ENDS |
| 38. | 818 | ETNA |
| 39. | 813 | ARES |
| 40. | 811 | ERAS |
| 41. | 809 | ELAN |
| 42. | 802 | ANNE |
| 43. | 783 | ALAI IRAN |
| 45. | 776 | EDIT |
| 46. | 768 | 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. | 713 | ALEC |
| 63. | 710 | REST |
| 64. | 708 | ISEE |
| 65. | 707 | ABLE ADAM |
| 67. | 706 | ACHE |
| 68. | 702 | NEST |
| 69. | 698 | ELLA |
| 70. | 697 | ALAN IDLE OSLO |
| 73. | 696 | ALIT EMIT |
| 75. | 693 | ARAB ATOM |
| 77. | 692 | ITEM NERO |
| 79. | 690 | EIRE |
| 80. | 688 | ABET |
| 81. | 685 | EVIL |
| 82. | 684 | OPAL |
| 83. | 675 | AVER |
| 84. | 669 | OVER RENO |
| 86. | 667 | ARID |
| 87. | 666 | ERIC |
| 88. | 659 | AONE INTO |
| 90. | 658 | APSE |
| 91. | 654 | UNIT |
| 92. | 650 | OMEN |
| 93. | 648 | IOTA |
| 94. | 647 | OTTO |
| 95. | 646 | NEAT OGRE SNAP |
| 98. | 643 | RENE |
| 99. | 640 | AFAR |
| 100. | 639 | OMIT ORES |
| 102. | 638 | STEP |
| 103. | 637 | ELSA |
| 104. | 635 | OLIO |
| 105. | 630 | EMIR SLED |
| 107. | 628 | ONTO |
| 108. | 626 | STET |
| 109. | 621 | ARTS ESAU |
| 111. | 619 | ALES ASHE |
| 113. | 618 | ABEL OVAL |
| 115. | 617 | NESS OPEN |
| 117. | 616 | EVEN |
| 118. | 612 | NEAR |
| 119. | 611 | ADEN |
| 120. | 603 | ONER |
| 121. | 602 | ANNA |
| 122. | 600 | ALSO OTIS |
| 124. | 599 | URAL |
| 125. | 597 | IRIS |
| 126. | 596 | AMOR |
| 127. | 593 | SCAR |
| 128. | 592 | ARAL |
| 129. | 591 | YSER |
| 130. | 590 | ERNE |
| 131. | 589 | STEM |
| 132. | 587 | SPAR |
| 133. | 585 | ATOP REED |
| 135. | 584 | ERLE |
| 136. | 581 | EPIC URGE |
| 138. | 579 | ANEW UTAH |
| 140. | 578 | SERE |
| 141. | 577 | ERRS |
| 142. | 574 | ANTS NEON |
| 144. | 572 | AGRA ASTI |
| 146. | 571 | IGOR |
| 147. | 566 | EDNA |
| 148. | 563 | AGAR STOP |
| 150. | 561 | ERAT |
| 151. | 560 | NEED |
| 152. | 558 | RENT |
| 153. | 557 | EDAM |
| 154. | 556 | AMOS LIAR |
| 156. | 555 | ODES USER |
| 158. | 554 | KNEE |
| 159. | 546 | 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 |
| 176. | 522 | OREO |
| 177. | 519 | TEST |
| 178. | 518 | AGES |
| 179. | 512 | SLOE |
| 180. | 511 | OTOE ROLE SENT |
| 183. | 509 | ACTS |
| 184. | 507 | ALAR ARNO OVEN RIOT |
| 188. | 506 | AGEE SETS |
| 190. | 505 | SERA STAT |
| 192. | 500 | STAG |
| 193. | 497 | SEEN |
| 194. | 496 | OGLE |
| 195. | 495 | EELS |
| 196. | 492 | EGAD INCA STEW |
| 199. | 491 | ITER REEL |
| 201. | 489 | LENA |
| 202. | 488 | ERGO |
| 203. | 487 | STOA |
| 204. | 485 | ASST |
| 205. | 484 | ODIN |
| 206. | 483 | DEER EWER ONUS STAB |
| 210. | 481 | TIER |
| 211. | 479 | EARL |
| 212. | 478 | ACME |
| 213. | 476 | ANIL |
| 214. | 475 | AMES |
| 215. | 474 | IDES |
| 216. | 473 | LEER ODER REAL TESS |
| 220. | 471 | OHIO |
| 221. | 469 | SALE |
| 222. | 468 | ULNA |
| 223. | 465 | TEEN |
| 224. | 464 | EARS NOSE SARI |
| 227. | 462 | EATS SCAT |
| 229. | 461 | REDS |
| 230. | 460 | OLLA OSSA |
| 232. | 459 | STLO |
| 233. | 458 | AVON TEAR TIRE TROT |
| 237. | 457 | TRES |
| 238. | 456 | SODA |
| 239. | 455 | MERE OGEE |
| 241. | 453 | AIDA |
| 242. | 452 | IVAN |
| 243. | 451 | AJAR IRAE TRAP |
| 246. | 450 | SOSO TALE |
| 248. | 447 | LANE |
| 249. | 446 | AMIE ARGO ICON |
| 252. | 444 | REDO SASS |
| 254. | 443 | NINE |
| 255. | 442 | ASTO EMMA STAY USED |
| 259. | 441 | TRUE |
| 260. | 440 | ETAT |
| 261. | 439 | ARTE OMAN SPAT STEN USES |
| 266. | 437 | LATE |
| 267. | 436 | ACID |
| 268. | 435 | ROAR SOLE |
| 270. | 434 | AHAB ETES |
| 272. | 433 | HERO SEAT |
| 274. | 432 | ALOT ELIS URSA |
| 277. | 431 | TARA |
| 278. | 429 | AGED NATO |
| 280. | 428 | ETAS |
| 281. | 427 | LESS |
| 282. | 426 | ARLO IAGO NETS RISE |
| 286. | 425 | SEMI |
| 287. | 424 | TALC |
| 288. | 423 | HERE NORA SANE |
| 291. | 422 | EYES |
| 292. | 420 | RANT SPAS |
| 294. | 418 | SEAL |
| 295. | 417 | NOTE |
| 296. | 415 | DATA 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 |
| 315. | 406 | SIRE |
| 316. | 405 | LAVA ODDS UNTO |
| 319. | 404 | ANTA ASPS |
| 321. | 403 | ORCA |
| 322. | 402 | ADDS AMAH RAIN SORE |
| 326. | 401 | MESS NAME NONE |
| 329. | 400 | SLAT |
| 330. | 399 | ATEE GENE REIN RILE |
| 334. | 398 | ALIA SNEE |
| 336. | 397 | EONS INGE |
| 338. | 396 | UTES |
| 339. | 395 | ARIL LORE MESA |
| 342. | 394 | TATA |
| 343. | 393 | APES SCAN |
| 345. | 391 | HARE SPED |
| 347. | 390 | ALPS |
| 348. | 388 | EMIL LENS |
| 350. | 386 | SCOT SOLO |
| 352. | 385 | CREE UPON |
| 354. | 384 | ALDA AUTO |
| 356. | 383 | ELMO SALT |
| 358. | 382 | PERU |
| 359. | 381 | LEAR MENU |
| 361. | 379 | ATTA |
| 362. | 378 | CEDE LINE OMNI |
| 365. | 377 | AGOG EGOS NOON PLEA |
| 369. | 376 | 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 EAVE SAGA |
| 387. | 367 | SITE SNIP |
| 389. | 366 | HERA |
| 390. | 365 | SNOW SPAN |
| 392. | 364 | LAIR SSTS |
| 394. | 363 | ETTU SNAG |
| 396. | 362 | AKIN ARCH EASY OMOO |
| 400. | 361 | READ TEES |
| 402. | 360 | AHEM ESTA LENT NEMO RAGE RASP YALE |
| 409. | 359 | ERIS RAIL SHOE |
| 412. | 358 | AWOL PEER TORE |
| 415. | 357 | ROTE SILO USSR |
| 418. | 356 | MEET OISE |
| 420. | 355 | OATS |
| 421. | 354 | GNAT |
| 422. | 353 | ALMA |
| 423. | 352 | ATTU SEES |
| 425. | 350 | OATH |
| 426. | 349 | ETCH 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. | 339 | IONA LIEN RATS SECT TILE |
| 448. | 338 | ANNO ITAL |
| 450. | 337 | NINA OAHU SETA |
| 453. | 336 | ELBA NENE TENS |
| 456. | 334 | ASAP EWES GLEE SMEE |
| 460. | 333 | DEAR NASA ORLE TOSS |
| 464. | 332 | DARE GALA SLAM |
| 467. | 331 | LAIC |
| 468. | 330 | ESSO RICE |
| 470. | 329 | AVID EZRA STER |
| 473. | 328 | AARE ASKS EGGS ESPY ICER |
| 478. | 327 | ISIS SORT |
| 480. | 325 | LEAN LEES NEER RELY TAPE TEND |
| 486. | 324 | CITE GEAR HAHA LACE |
| 490. | 323 | IMAM LASS OKRA |
| 493. | 322 | ALTA EDER IVES |
| 496. | 321 | EACH OAST PETE SAGE |
| 500. | 320 | ADAR ROOT ROSS TRAM UCLA |
| 505. | 319 | DEAN ECCE LESE SELL |
| 509. | 318 | ADIT AQUA |
| 511. | 317 | PSST SEEP STUN |
| 514. | 316 | AINT DENT ELIE LAOS ONLY PAPA RANI RARA SAME TINE |
| 524. | 314 | ISNT SMOG TEAL |
| 527. | 313 | AFRO IDEE INNS INON |
| 531. | 312 | CASE MEAT PEST ROMA SASH SEAR SPIN |
| 538. | 311 | ACER LAMA METE NICE |
| 542. | 310 | ACTA BALI DALI ICES LENO MAMA NAIL STOW |
| 550. | 309 | AGER HONE 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 | ALUM AMOK ARCS DATE LOLA ROAN |
| 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 | ROAD TAME |
| 592. | 295 | AMAT APED AXLE DENS SLAB |
| 597. | 294 | ABED DELE EINE ENNA TEAS |
| 602. | 293 | ICED LIMA |
| 604. | 292 | ARMS EYRE LEON PASS RAPT |
| 609. | 291 | SOHO |
| 610. | 290 | ARTY IRES LEAP NOAH OBEY SETH |
| 616. | 289 | EURO OBIT REAM RULE TERN TROD |
| 622. | 288 | CARE HIRE INIT TAIL |
| 626. | 287 | ATEN ILES RIPE |
| 629. | 286 | ANET ILLS NEAP OTIC SLIT |
| 634. | 285 | IOWA LEST OLAF TORO |
| 638. | 284 | AIRS DENY DIET ERMA RAID REND SHAH TOAD |
| 646. | 283 | BETA ELON POET TEEM |
| 650. | 282 | AIRE SHED |
| 652. | 281 | CENT EBRO SAVE SNIT SOAP TRIP |
| 658. | 280 | ALLA DIAL LIES SOME |
| 662. | 279 | EBAN EYED TOGA |
| 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 SAFE SOON TACT TIDE |
| 700. | 269 | MAGI OONA PIER TODO TREK |
| 705. | 268 | CAST ROLL SNOB |
| 708. | 267 | AVOW LARA TERM |
| 711. | 266 | LIME PANE RHEA TELL |
| 715. | 265 | AMIR DEEP MIEN |
| 718. | 264 | DAIS DORA MARE PEAR |
| 722. | 263 | ALOU OILS SAIL SEAN URNS UVEA |
| 728. | 262 | ONEA YENS |
| 730. | 261 | ACTI ALGA ALLY APIA AUNT MOOR |
| 736. | 260 | AMOI DRAT HAIR PALE |
| 740. | 259 | AILS ARAM DADA HOSE LEAD NONO |
| 746. | 258 | ANDY RING |
| 748. | 257 | EKES EXAM PARE SLUR WEST |
| 753. | 256 | CLAM LOSE RYES SOFA |
| 757. | 255 | BEST DIOR ENOL ENTO MASS NAPE RODE TOTO URIS |
| 766. | 254 | LAME OPTS TINT |
| 769. | 253 | HORA OPUS SEAM TAOS |
| 773. | 252 | EXES HATE LANA TALL TERI THAI |
| 779. | 251 | TREY |
| 780. | 250 | EVAN LIRE ROPE SLIP TACO TATE TRIM |
| 787. | 249 | ELKS PAIR RANG |
| 790. | 248 | BASS HULA MATE OOZE POSE TOME |
| 796. | 247 | CLAN DELI LAMB LEND MARS MAST ONIT REEF ROVE SEEM TASS |
| 807. | 246 | ABAS RATA ROBE |
| 810. | 245 | BEER DANE EGIS ITCH MARC NELL |
| 816. | 244 | AGIO HENS LEAH OKIE |
| 820. | 243 | ALII CHAR LODE LURE |
| 824. | 242 | LOAN LOVE PAST TARE |
| 828. | 241 | ALOP CASH DEEM LETS MANE MEAN PATE |
| 835. | 240 | ATIT BRIE GATE PERE |
| 839. | 239 | TOOL WREN |
| 841. | 238 | DART HOPI LIEU MINE ORSO PINE SERB TINA |
| 849. | 237 | AVIS IBAR NEWS PERI SWAN |
| 854. | 236 | APEX ATON CRAM DISC MEAL OLEG THEE |
| 861. | 235 | ASHY CONE KNOT MORE NAPA NORM ROIL SOOT SWAT TUTU |
| 871. | 234 | LOOT PACE PEEL |
| 874. | 233 | CORE DESI LOON LOST SYNE |
| 879. | 232 | AMIS CANE DOOR ENTE NYET PISA SEGO THAT |
| 887. | 231 | AEON AVEC EMUS IONS OLDS PACT RAFT ROUE SCAM SHOO TUNE |
| 898. | 230 | DIRE YORE |
| 900. | 229 | LAHR NOME SALA |
| 903. | 228 | DROP HERR PAGE PARA SAND |
| 908. | 227 | CHAP EBBS GLEN HERS NEWT OSHA SLAW TORT |
| 916. | 226 | AXIS CANT DOER ITSA MESH OUST SAPS YETI |
| 924. | 225 | AVES BESS ERNS GASP LISA ORBS PORE RAMA ROSY SHOP |
| 934. | 224 | ADOS AMER ELAL LINT RAMP SPIT |
| 940. | 223 | CAMP CASA COAT NOTA ROOM |
| 945. | 222 | CODA DRIP RAKE SANS SPEE TIES TMEN |
| 952. | 221 | ARKS AROW CHAT CHIC LARD ROAM |
| 958. | 220 | EELY ERGS HASP ITIS ODEA PLOT |
| 964. | 218 | BEET BRER EKED INCH MEMO NEIL NOUN OPEC ROUT RUSE |
| 974. | 217 | AHOY AWAY BARE CLAP EARP ELBE GLAD LAND LEIS NERD SHAG SLIM |
| 986. | 216 | CATO EDGY LOGE NCAA NOIR PENS SIRS SONS TARS TAUT |
| 996. | 215 | LASH POLE SLAG WERE |
| 1000. | 214 | ENDO |