In standard English vocabulary, which of the following words is the closest synonym of the adjective proximal, meaning near or close by?

Introduction / Context:
Vocabulary questions in competitive exams frequently test your understanding of synonyms, that is, words with similar meanings. The adjective proximal is often used in biology, anatomy, and general English to describe something that is near or close to a particular point. This question asks you to select the option whose meaning is closest to proximal from a set of words that mostly express distance or obscurity instead of nearness.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The target word is proximal, defined as near, close, or situated next to a point of reference.
• The options are frontier, obscure, remote, adjacent, and distant.
• Only one option should match the idea of nearness.
• No specialist scientific knowledge is required beyond basic English vocabulary.

Concept / Approach:
To solve synonym questions effectively, you should first restate the target word in simpler language. Proximal can be paraphrased as near, nearby, or close at hand. Next, you examine each option and see whether its meaning aligns with nearness or with distance. Adjacent means next to or adjoining something else, which closely matches the idea of being nearby. Frontier, remote, and distant all suggest far away, while obscure refers to something unclear or unknown. Therefore, adjacent is the only true synonym of proximal among the given choices.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Translate proximal into everyday English as near or close to. Step 2: Consider the meaning of frontier, which usually refers to a boundary or border region, often far from the center of activity. Step 3: Note that obscure means unclear, not well known, or hidden, which is about clarity, not distance. Step 4: Recognise that remote and distant both imply far away in space or time, the opposite of proximal. Step 5: Identify adjacent as meaning next to or adjoining, which best matches near or close by, and choose adjacent as the synonym.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify your choice by placing each option into a sample sentence. For example, The shop is proximal to my house means the shop is close to my house. Replacing proximal with adjacent gives The shop is adjacent to my house, which keeps the meaning. Trying remote or distant would reverse the sense, and obscure would make the sentence illogical. This sentence substitution method is a reliable way to check synonym questions quickly.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Frontier is wrong because it describes a border or edge area, often far from the center and not inherently near anything. Obscure is incorrect since it deals with lack of clarity or fame, not spatial closeness. Remote and distant are both antonyms of proximal, suggesting something far away rather than nearby. These words are deliberately included as distractors to test whether you truly understand that proximal refers to nearness, not distance.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to pick a word that feels technical or serious, such as frontier or obscure, without checking the actual meaning. Another pitfall is to confuse similar sounding words like proximal and remote because both are used in scientific or descriptive contexts. To avoid such errors, always pause to restate the target word in your own simple language and then match that restatement with one clear option. Building a habit of learning root words, like prox meaning near in many English terms, can also greatly boost your vocabulary performance.

Final Answer:
The closest synonym of proximal in this list is adjacent.