jmc

First we count the number of all 4-letter words with no restrictions on the word. Then we count the number of 4-letter words with no consonants. We then subtract to get the answer.

Each letter of a word must be one of $A$, $B$, $C$, $D$, or $E$, so the number of 4-letter words with no restrictions on the word is $5\times 5\times 5\times 5=625$. Each letter of a word with no consonant must be one of $A$ or $E$. So the number of all 4-letter words with no consonants is $2\times 2\times 2\times 2=16$. Therefore, the number of 4-letter words with at least one consonant is $625-16=\boxed{609}$.