A goal is an achievement toward which effort is directed, such as getting into a certain college or running a marathon. An intention is what one means or hopes to accomplish or carry out. It is close to a plan, emphasizing what is held the mind as motivation or purpose. Sometimes, however, the word is meant to highlight distance between what is planned or wished for and what is put into action, as in the case of good intentions that fall short of producing an outcome.

To strive is to exert oneself vigorously or to try hard. When we strive for something, such as excellence or success, we are making strenuous efforts toward that goal. This verb emphasizes a tireless determination; after all, excellence and success are not easily attained. It also suggests a degree of strife, reflecting earlier, more outwardly oppositional uses of strive to mean “to rival,” “to compete,” and “to struggle vigorously, as in opposition or battle.”

If something is provided without a charge or payment, then it is free. If it is offered as a gift or courtesy, it is complimentary. Politeness is at the heart of this adjective, which also means “expressing a compliment, often one that is politely flattering.” Politeness or courtesy is also at the heart of the hospitality industry, where one is likely to encounter complimentary items, such as a complimentary breakfast or complimentary Wi-Fi. Forgoing a few syllables, a particularly lucky hotel guest might also experience a meal or service being comped, or provided free of charge.

The verb finalize is close in meaning to the verb complete—both deal with finishing something. But complete is more likely to be used in discussion of tasks or steps, such as completing a job application or an essay for school. Finalize occurs more in discussion of protracted engagements, such as long business negotiations or a divorce. Note that finalize draws the ire of some stylists, along with other -ize verbs such as prioritize—so perhaps avoid this term in your next ode or sonnet! But rest assured, dear scribes, finalize is widely used in speech and writing.

To call something absurd is to point out its utter senselessness or foolishness. To call something incongruous is to point that it is out of place or inconsistent. These two adjectives, which emphasize slightly different qualities, overlap when the incongruity or inconsistency under discussion is so pronounced or outlandish that it veers into the absurd or laughable.

When you determine something, you conclude or ascertain it by reasoning or observation. When you verify something, you prove its truth or correctness, or you confirm it. There is a resoluteness to both terms, but verify has veritas (truth) at its core. To verify the accuracy of information, as a journalist does, is to fact-check it or confirm that it’s true. To verify the authenticity of an antique or artwork is to confirm its provenance or history of ownership. And to verify the identity of someone, as when accessing sensitive information online, is to make certain that that person is who they claim to be.

The adjective innovative emphasizes the introduction of something new. It is similar to the adjective creative insofar as it deals with originality, but innovative is far less likely to describe artistic endeavors, such as painting or writing. It is more at home in the world of technology and business-oriented problem solving, likely influenced by commercially oriented uses of the noun innovation to refer to new products introduced on the market, or the act of introducing new products.