The pliable and nimble antelope sped across the open grassland.In this sentence, why would lithe be a better synonym for "flexible" than pliable is? Lithe can also refer to graceful movement.Lithe implies greater flexibility than pliable does.Lithe can refer to mental flexibility as well as physical agility.
Both lithe and pliable can refer to flexibility, but lithe is a better synonym for "flexible" in this sentence because it implies greater agility and gracefulness in movement. It suggests that the antelope is not just flexible, but also quick and nimble in its actions. On the other hand, pliable mainly suggests a capability of being easily bent or molded. Therefore, lithe captures the essence of the antelope's movements more accurately.
answer
Lithe would be a better synonym for "flexible" than pliable because it not only implies physical flexibility but also graceful movement. While pliable mainly refers to the ability to be bent or molded, lithe suggests greater flexibility, agility, and nimbleness. Additionally, lithe can also be used to describe mental flexibility, highlighting a broader application of the term.
To understand why "lithe" would be a better synonym for "flexible" than "pliable" in this sentence, let's first look at the meanings of both words.
The word "pliable" means easily bent or flexible. It generally describes physical objects or materials that can be easily molded, shaped, or bent without breaking. In the context of the sentence, "pliable" implies that the antelope is physically flexible, able to move and adapt its body to navigate the grassland.
On the other hand, "lithe" describes not only physical flexibility but also graceful and agile movement. It refers to both the physical dexterity and elegance in how something moves. In this sentence, "lithe" would suggest that the antelope is not only physically flexible but also moves with great agility and grace.
Therefore, "lithe" is a better synonym for "flexible" in this context because it captures the additional qualities of grace and agility in the antelope's movement, which "pliable" does not convey.