Question

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?

1 Lithe can also refer to graceful movement.

2 Lithe implies greater flexibility than pliable does.

3 Lithe can refer to mental flexibility as well as physical agility.

Answer 1

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

The correct answer is 2. Lithe implies greater flexibility than pliable does. While both pliable and lithe can refer to physical flexibility, lithe suggests a higher level of flexibility and suppleness. Lithe typically describes a body that moves easily and gracefully, indicating nimbleness and agility. In contrast, pliable suggests the ability to be easily bent or molded, but may not necessarily imply the same level of agility or grace.