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. | 1,600 | AREA |
| 2. | 1,433 | ERIE |
| 3. | 1,247 | ARIA |
| 4. | 1,220 | ALOE |
| 5. | 1,202 | ANTE |
| 6. | 1,145 | EDEN |
| 7. | 1,144 | ELSE |
| 8. | 1,067 | STAR |
| 9. | 1,056 | IDEA |
| 10. | 1,043 | ORAL |
| 11. | 975 | ALAS |
| 12. | 958 | EASE |
| 13. | 951 | ASEA |
| 14. | 941 | EROS |
| 15. | 933 | ALEE |
| 16. | 930 | TREE |
| 17. | 929 | ODOR |
| 18. | 917 | TSAR |
| 19. | 901 | ACRE |
| 20. | 894 | ENOS |
| 21. | 879 | OLEO |
| 22. | 878 | IRON |
| 23. | 872 | ANTI |
| 24. | 868 | STIR |
| 25. | 865 | OMAR |
| 26. | 863 | ETON |
| 27. | 860 | AMEN ANON ETAL |
| 30. | 857 | ESSE |
| 31. | 855 | ONES |
| 32. | 850 | ASIA |
| 33. | 835 | OBOE |
| 34. | 832 | ERIN |
| 35. | 830 | ESTE |
| 36. | 827 | ONCE |
| 37. | 823 | ENDS |
| 38. | 818 | ETNA |
| 39. | 812 | ARES |
| 40. | 808 | ERAS |
| 41. | 805 | ELAN |
| 42. | 801 | ANNE |
| 43. | 783 | ALAI |
| 44. | 781 | IRAN |
| 45. | 773 | EDIT |
| 46. | 767 | ECHO |
| 47. | 764 | IDOL |
| 48. | 757 | EPEE |
| 49. | 751 | ALTO INRE |
| 51. | 746 | AERO |
| 52. | 743 | EAST ERSE |
| 54. | 742 | ENID |
| 55. | 740 | ELIA RARE |
| 57. | 735 | ISLE |
| 58. | 728 | ETTE |
| 59. | 721 | ETRE |
| 60. | 716 | EDGE |
| 61. | 713 | ALEC EVER |
| 63. | 709 | REST |
| 64. | 705 | ACHE ADAM ISEE |
| 67. | 704 | ABLE |
| 68. | 701 | NEST |
| 69. | 696 | ALAN EMIT OSLO |
| 72. | 695 | ELLA |
| 73. | 694 | ALIT |
| 74. | 693 | ARAB ATOM IDLE |
| 77. | 691 | NERO |
| 78. | 690 | ITEM |
| 79. | 689 | EIRE |
| 80. | 685 | ABET EVIL |
| 82. | 684 | OPAL |
| 83. | 673 | AVER |
| 84. | 669 | OVER RENO |
| 86. | 667 | ARID |
| 87. | 664 | ERIC |
| 88. | 659 | AONE |
| 89. | 658 | INTO |
| 90. | 657 | APSE |
| 91. | 653 | UNIT |
| 92. | 649 | OMEN |
| 93. | 648 | IOTA |
| 94. | 647 | OTTO |
| 95. | 645 | NEAT SNAP |
| 97. | 644 | OGRE |
| 98. | 641 | RENE |
| 99. | 640 | AFAR |
| 100. | 638 | STEP |
| 101. | 636 | ELSA OMIT ORES |
| 104. | 634 | OLIO |
| 105. | 630 | EMIR |
| 106. | 628 | ONTO SLED |
| 108. | 626 | STET |
| 109. | 620 | ESAU |
| 110. | 619 | ARTS |
| 111. | 618 | ABEL ASHE |
| 113. | 617 | OPEN OVAL |
| 115. | 616 | ALES |
| 116. | 615 | EVEN |
| 117. | 614 | NESS |
| 118. | 611 | ADEN |
| 119. | 610 | NEAR |
| 120. | 603 | ONER |
| 121. | 600 | ANNA |
| 122. | 599 | ALSO URAL |
| 124. | 597 | OTIS |
| 125. | 594 | IRIS |
| 126. | 593 | AMOR |
| 127. | 592 | SCAR |
| 128. | 591 | YSER |
| 129. | 590 | ARAL ERNE |
| 131. | 589 | STEM |
| 132. | 587 | SPAR |
| 133. | 584 | ERLE REED |
| 135. | 582 | ATOP |
| 136. | 580 | EPIC URGE |
| 138. | 579 | ANEW UTAH |
| 140. | 578 | SERE |
| 141. | 577 | ERRS |
| 142. | 572 | ASTI |
| 143. | 571 | NEON |
| 144. | 570 | IGOR |
| 145. | 569 | AGRA |
| 146. | 568 | ANTS |
| 147. | 565 | EDNA |
| 148. | 563 | AGAR |
| 149. | 562 | STOP |
| 150. | 560 | ERAT |
| 151. | 558 | NEED |
| 152. | 557 | RENT |
| 153. | 555 | AMOS EDAM LIAR |
| 156. | 554 | ODES |
| 157. | 553 | USER |
| 158. | 552 | KNEE |
| 159. | 543 | AURA NILE |
| 161. | 541 | STAN |
| 162. | 540 | TRIO |
| 163. | 539 | ELLE |
| 164. | 538 | RATE |
| 165. | 537 | REAR |
| 166. | 536 | AIDE |
| 167. | 534 | ASTA |
| 168. | 533 | EARN |
| 169. | 532 | ACES |
| 170. | 531 | ERST |
| 171. | 530 | ECRU |
| 172. | 527 | ETTA |
| 173. | 526 | SEER |
| 174. | 525 | OREL |
| 175. | 523 | ORAN |
| 176. | 519 | OREO |
| 177. | 518 | AGES |
| 178. | 517 | TEST |
| 179. | 512 | SLOE |
| 180. | 511 | SENT |
| 181. | 510 | OTOE |
| 182. | 509 | ROLE |
| 183. | 507 | ALAR ARNO |
| 185. | 506 | AGEE OVEN RIOT |
| 188. | 504 | ACTS SERA SETS |
| 191. | 502 | STAT |
| 192. | 497 | SEEN |
| 193. | 496 | OGLE STAG |
| 195. | 492 | EELS |
| 196. | 491 | ITER |
| 197. | 490 | EGAD INCA |
| 199. | 489 | REEL STEW |
| 201. | 488 | ERGO LENA |
| 203. | 487 | STOA |
| 204. | 484 | ASST |
| 205. | 482 | ODIN STAB |
| 207. | 481 | DEER EWER ONUS |
| 210. | 479 | TIER |
| 211. | 478 | EARL |
| 212. | 476 | ANIL |
| 213. | 475 | ACME AMES |
| 215. | 473 | IDES LEER ODER REAL |
| 219. | 472 | TESS |
| 220. | 469 | SALE |
| 221. | 468 | OHIO |
| 222. | 467 | ULNA |
| 223. | 465 | TEEN |
| 224. | 464 | EARS NOSE |
| 226. | 462 | SARI |
| 227. | 461 | EATS REDS |
| 229. | 460 | OLLA SCAT |
| 231. | 459 | OSSA STLO |
| 233. | 457 | AVON TEAR TIRE TROT |
| 237. | 455 | OGEE TRES |
| 239. | 454 | MERE |
| 240. | 453 | AIDA SODA |
| 242. | 451 | AJAR IRAE IVAN TRAP |
| 246. | 450 | SOSO |
| 247. | 447 | TALE |
| 248. | 446 | AMIE ARGO LANE |
| 251. | 444 | ICON |
| 252. | 443 | REDO |
| 253. | 442 | SASS |
| 254. | 441 | EMMA STAY USED |
| 257. | 440 | ETAT NINE TRUE |
| 260. | 439 | ASTO OMAN STEN |
| 263. | 438 | ARTE SPAT |
| 265. | 437 | USES |
| 266. | 435 | ACID LATE SOLE |
| 269. | 434 | ROAR |
| 270. | 433 | ETES |
| 271. | 432 | ELIS HERO SEAT URSA |
| 275. | 431 | AHAB ALOT TARA |
| 278. | 428 | AGED NATO |
| 280. | 426 | LESS NETS RISE |
| 283. | 425 | ARLO |
| 284. | 424 | ETAS IAGO SEMI TALC |
| 288. | 423 | NORA |
| 289. | 422 | SANE |
| 290. | 421 | EYES HERE |
| 292. | 420 | RANT |
| 293. | 419 | SPAS |
| 294. | 417 | SEAL |
| 295. | 415 | DATA LIRA NOTE |
| 298. | 414 | NOEL |
| 299. | 413 | NANA SATE |
| 301. | 411 | ASIS ESNE RITE |
| 304. | 410 | HALO ROSE |
| 306. | 409 | ARNE SEED |
| 308. | 408 | EXIT SARA TONE |
| 311. | 407 | AMID RACE SPOT TETE |
| 315. | 406 | SIRE |
| 316. | 405 | LAVA UNTO |
| 318. | 404 | ANTA |
| 319. | 403 | ODDS |
| 320. | 402 | AMAH ORCA |
| 322. | 401 | ASPS MESS RAIN SORE |
| 326. | 400 | ADDS NAME NONE |
| 329. | 399 | ATEE GENE RILE |
| 332. | 398 | ALIA REIN SLAT SNEE |
| 336. | 397 | EONS INGE |
| 338. | 395 | ARIL LORE MESA |
| 341. | 394 | UTES |
| 342. | 393 | APES TATA |
| 344. | 391 | SCAN |
| 345. | 390 | HARE SPED |
| 347. | 389 | ALPS |
| 348. | 388 | EMIL LENS |
| 350. | 386 | SCOT |
| 351. | 385 | CREE SOLO UPON |
| 354. | 384 | ALDA |
| 355. | 383 | AUTO |
| 356. | 382 | ELMO SALT |
| 358. | 381 | LEAR PERU |
| 360. | 379 | ATTA MENU |
| 362. | 378 | LINE |
| 363. | 377 | CEDE |
| 364. | 376 | AGOG EGOS NOON OMNI PLEA RITA |
| 370. | 374 | LION SLOT YEAR |
| 373. | 373 | EDDY UNDO |
| 375. | 372 | ETUI TENT |
| 377. | 371 | EDIE |
| 378. | 370 | ANAT EBON |
| 380. | 369 | ABUT REAP TARO |
| 383. | 368 | ADES ALAE |
| 385. | 367 | EAVE SAGA SITE |
| 388. | 366 | HERA SNIP |
| 390. | 364 | SPAN SSTS |
| 392. | 363 | SNAG |
| 393. | 362 | EASY OMOO SNOW |
| 396. | 361 | ETTU READ |
| 398. | 360 | AHEM ESTA NEMO TEES |
| 402. | 359 | AKIN ARCH ERIS LAIR LENT RASP YALE |
| 409. | 358 | PEER RAGE RAIL |
| 412. | 357 | AWOL SHOE SILO TORE |
| 416. | 356 | OISE ROTE USSR |
| 419. | 354 | GNAT MEET |
| 421. | 353 | OATS |
| 422. | 352 | ALMA ATTU SEES |
| 425. | 349 | OATH |
| 426. | 348 | ACNE APER ROSA TELE |
| 430. | 347 | ETCH LONE |
| 432. | 346 | RAVE |
| 433. | 345 | LAST OARS TITO |
| 436. | 344 | ABBA SEAS SLAP |
| 439. | 343 | ORNE |
| 440. | 342 | SEND |
| 441. | 341 | DEED ROME |
| 443. | 339 | RATS TILE |
| 445. | 338 | ANNO IONA LIEN SECT |
| 449. | 337 | SETA |
| 450. | 336 | NENE OAHU |
| 452. | 335 | ELBA ITAL NINA TENS |
| 456. | 334 | SMEE |
| 457. | 333 | EWES ORLE TOSS |
| 460. | 332 | ASAP DARE DEAR GLEE NASA |
| 465. | 331 | LAIC SLAM |
| 467. | 330 | GALA RICE |
| 469. | 329 | STER |
| 470. | 328 | AARE AVID EGGS ESPY ESSO EZRA ICER |
| 477. | 326 | ASKS ISIS SORT |
| 480. | 325 | LEAN LEES NEER RELY TEND |
| 485. | 324 | GEAR LACE |
| 487. | 323 | CITE HAHA TAPE |
| 490. | 322 | EDER IVES LASS OKRA |
| 494. | 321 | ALTA EACH IMAM OAST PETE |
| 499. | 320 | ADAR ROOT SAGE UCLA |
| 503. | 319 | ECCE LESE |
| 505. | 318 | ADIT AQUA DEAN ROSS SELL TRAM |
| 511. | 317 | SEEP STUN |
| 513. | 316 | DENT ONLY PAPA PSST RANI RARA SAME TINE |
| 521. | 315 | AINT ELIE LAOS |
| 524. | 313 | IDEE TEAL |
| 526. | 312 | AFRO INNS ISNT MEAT ROMA SPIN |
| 532. | 311 | CASE METE NICE PEST SASH |
| 537. | 310 | ACTA LAMA MAMA SEAR STOW |
| 542. | 309 | ACER BALI DALI INON LENO NAIL |
| 548. | 308 | AGER HONE ICES SINE SMOG |
| 553. | 307 | EDDA |
| 554. | 306 | OLES OXEN SLAV |
| 557. | 305 | PERT SAAR |
| 559. | 304 | ABIE IRAS RASH RIDE SIAM |
| 564. | 303 | TART |
| 565. | 302 | DATE |
| 566. | 301 | AMOK ARCS ELLS HALE OLGA |
| 571. | 300 | AGUE ALUM LOLA ROAN SHEA |
| 576. | 299 | AMMO |
| 577. | 298 | IRMA PLAN RIGA SOAR |
| 581. | 297 | EVES NOVA PESO SLEW TAXI |
| 586. | 296 | ASSN LEVI THOR |
| 589. | 295 | AMAT AXLE DENS IBIS ROAD SLAB TAME |
| 596. | 294 | ABED APED DELE EINE ENNA |
| 601. | 293 | TEAS |
| 602. | 292 | ICED LIMA PASS RAPT |
| 606. | 291 | ARMS LEON |
| 608. | 290 | EYRE IRES NOAH |
| 611. | 289 | ARTY LEAP OBEY REAM RULE SETH SOHO TROD |
| 619. | 288 | CARE EURO TAIL TERN |
| 623. | 287 | ATEN HIRE ILES INIT OBIT RIPE |
| 629. | 286 | ANET NEAP OTIC SLIT |
| 633. | 285 | ILLS OLAF TORO |
| 636. | 284 | DIET IOWA LEST RAID REND SHAH TOAD |
| 643. | 283 | AIRS DENY ERMA TEEM |
| 647. | 282 | AIRE ELON POET |
| 650. | 281 | BETA CENT EBRO SHED TRIP |
| 655. | 280 | DIAL SOAP |
| 657. | 279 | ALLA EBAN EYED LIES SAVE SOME |
| 663. | 278 | CRAB ELEE POLO SNIT |
| 667. | 277 | TBAR TOGA TOTE |
| 670. | 276 | BASE RTES RUIN SIDE |
| 674. | 275 | ECON ELMS FREE LEDA LIST NAST |
| 680. | 274 | ACED DESK SHAM |
| 683. | 273 | DEAL OVID RIAL |
| 686. | 272 | ABCS HOLE |
| 688. | 271 | SURE TOES |
| 690. | 270 | ABOU COLA EERO TACT TEAM TIME |
| 696. | 269 | MAGI OONA PIER SAFE SOON TIDE TREK TUNA |
| 704. | 268 | ROLL SNOB |
| 706. | 267 | AVOW CAST TERM |
| 709. | 266 | LARA LIME PANE TODO |
| 713. | 265 | AMIR RHEA |
| 715. | 264 | DEEP PEAR |
| 717. | 263 | ALOU DAIS DORA MARE MIEN OILS SAIL SEAN TELL UVEA |
| 727. | 262 | ONEA URNS |
| 729. | 261 | ALGA APIA |
| 731. | 260 | ALLY AMOI AUNT DRAT HAIR MOOR |
| 737. | 259 | ACTI AILS ARAM DADA LEAD NONO PALE YENS |
| 745. | 258 | ANDY RING |
| 747. | 257 | EXAM HOSE SLUR WEST |
| 751. | 256 | CLAM EKES LOSE PARE SOFA |
| 756. | 255 | BEST DIOR ENOL ENTO RYES TOTO URIS |
| 763. | 254 | MASS NAPE TINT |
| 766. | 253 | HORA LAME OPTS OPUS RODE |
| 771. | 252 | EXES HATE SEAM TALL TAOS TERI |
| 777. | 251 | LANA THAI TREY |
| 780. | 250 | LIRE ROPE SLIP TACO |
| 784. | 249 | EVAN RANG TATE |
| 787. | 248 | BASS ELKS HULA PAIR POSE TRIM |
| 793. | 247 | CLAN LEND MAST MATE ONIT OOZE REEF ROVE SEEM TASS TOME |
| 804. | 246 | ABAS LAMB MARS RATA ROBE |
| 809. | 245 | BEER DANE DELI EGIS NELL |
| 814. | 244 | AGIO HENS MARC |
| 817. | 243 | ALII CHAR LEAH LODE OKIE |
| 822. | 242 | LOAN LOVE TARE |
| 825. | 241 | ALOP CASH LETS LURE MANE MEAN PATE |
| 832. | 240 | BRIE DEEM |
| 834. | 239 | ITCH PAST PERE TOOL WREN |
| 839. | 238 | ATIT DART GATE HOPI LIEU MINE TINA |
| 846. | 237 | AVIS IBAR PERI PINE SERB SWAN |
| 852. | 236 | APEX CRAM DISC MEAL NEWS OLEG ORSO THEE |
| 860. | 235 | ASHY ATON NAPA PACE ROIL SOOT SWAT |
| 867. | 234 | CONE KNOT LOOT MORE NORM PEEL |
| 873. | 233 | CORE LOST SYNE TUTU |
| 877. | 232 | AMIS DESI DOOR ENTE LOON PISA |
| 883. | 231 | AEON AVEC CANE IONS OLDS PACT RAFT SEGO THAT TUNE |
| 893. | 230 | DIRE EMUS NYET ROUE |
| 897. | 229 | LAHR SALA SCAM YORE |
| 901. | 228 | DROP HERR PARA SAND SHOO |
| 906. | 227 | EBBS GLEN HERS NEWT NOME PAGE SLAW TORT |
| 914. | 226 | CHAP DOER ITSA SAPS |
| 918. | 225 | AVES AXIS BESS CANT ERNS GASP LISA MESH ORBS OSHA OUST PORE ROSY SHOP YETI |
| 933. | 224 | AMER LINT RAMA RAMP SPIT |
| 938. | 223 | ADOS CAMP CASA ELAL NOTA |
| 943. | 222 | COAT CODA DRIP RAKE ROOM SPEE TMEN |
| 950. | 221 | AROW CHAT ROAM SANS |
| 954. | 220 | ARKS CHIC EELY PLOT TIES |
| 959. | 219 | ERGS HASP ITIS ODEA |
| 963. | 218 | BRER LARD ROUT |
| 966. | 217 | BARE CLAP EARP EKED ELBE INCH LAND MEMO NERD NOUN RUSE SHAG SLIM |
| 979. | 216 | AHOY AWAY BEET CATO EDGY GLAD LEIS NCAA NEIL OPEC SIRS TARS TAUT |
| 992. | 215 | LASH LOGE NOIR POLE SLAG SONS |
| 998. | 214 | ENDO FETE LOCO |