挑む|いどむidomu[2]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. godan verb, transitive verbto challenge to (a fight, game, etc.); to throw down the gauntlet; to contend for
   そのインディアンの群むれは、ほんのちょっとでも怒いからすと戦たたかいを挑いどもうとした。↗

   The band of Indians were ready to go on the warpath at the slightest provocation.
2. godan verb, intransitive verbto tackle (e.g. a problem); to attempt; to go after (a prize, record, etc.)
3. godan verb, intransitive verbto pressure (someone) for sex; to make advances to
   昨夜さくやは結美ゆみのほうから挑いどんできたんだ。↗

   Last night it was Yumi who pushed for sex.

• Synonym挑戦ちょうせんNeutralKanji-compound noun for a challenge: 「記録に挑戦する」 means the same as 「記録に挑む」. The noun form is more common than the verb, and it suits both speech and writing.
• SynonymチャレンジNeutralLoanword for taking on a challenge or trying something new, as in 「新しいことにチャレンジ」; casual, conversational tone.
• Related立ち向かうたちむかうNeutralFor meeting difficulties head-on, as in 「困難に立ち向かう」; the nuance is confronting something frontally rather than throwing down a challenge.
• Related楯突くたてつくNeutralFor defying or talking back to a superior, as in 「上司に楯突く」; it is about rebelling against authority, not taking on a challenge.
• Related競り合うせりあうNeutralFor closely matched contention, over races, prices or markets alike; the nuance is a neck-and-neck struggle rather than a challenge.
• Related戦うたたかうNeutralThe broad verb for fighting or battling; 「挑む」 specifically suggests initiating a fight or taking on a difficult task.
• Related競い合うきそいあうNeutralFor two sides vying with each other, as in 「技を競い合う」; stresses mutual competition rather than one party challenging another.
• Related競争きょうそうNeutralEveryday word for competition, at home in speech and writing; essentially a noun, and it lacks the nuance of actively provoking a contest.
• Related勝負しょうぶNeutralFor settling a match, as in 「勝負する」; the focus is on winning or losing a decisive contest, not on the act of challenging.
• Related抵抗ていこうNeutralResistance against an outside force; it leans toward pushing back at pressure, whereas 「挑む」 means setting out to take something on.
• Related対抗たいこうNeutralFor opposing or rivalling a competitor, as in 「対抗馬」; the nuance is rivalry and standing up to someone.
• Related抗戦こうせんWrittenWritten-style word for resisting an enemy force, as in 「徹底抗戦」; largely military in flavour.
• Related競合きょうごうWrittenWritten-style word for mutual competition, mostly in business contexts such as 「競合他社」; also a term of art in law.
• Related反抗はんこうNeutralFor defying parents or superiors; the nuance is disobedience and rebellion rather than taking on a challenge.
• Related迎え撃つむかえうつWrittenWritten-style verb for meeting and attacking an advancing enemy; it is a defensive counterattack, not a challenge you initiate.
• Related張り合うはりあうNeutralFor competing out of rivalry, as in 「ライバルと張り合う」; the nuance is refusing to be outdone.
• Related立ち合うたちあうNeutralFor being matched against an opponent in a contest; strongly associated with sumo and the martial arts.
• Related競うきそうNeutralFor vying in skill or ability, as in 「腕を競う」; centres on contests of skill rather than challenges.
• Related奮戦ふんせんWrittenWritten-style word for fighting hard, as in 「奮戦むなしく」; stresses battling with all one's might.
• RelatedトライNeutralLoanword for giving something a try, or for a try in rugby; lighter than 「挑む」, just an attempt.
• Related争うあらそうWrittenAlso written 「争う」 and read 「あらがう」; for refusing to submit. Compared with 「挑む」 it leans to defensive resistance.
• Related歯向かうはむかうCasualColloquial verb for snapping back at or defying someone stronger, as in 「親に歯向かう」; the nuance is talking back from below.
• Related抗うあらがうWrittenWritten-style verb for resisting fate or authority, as in 「運命に抗う」; it stresses refusing to submit, while 「挑む」 stresses going on the offensive.
• Related戦わすたたかわすWrittenWritten-style causative for pitting two sides against each other, as in 「議論を戦わす」; often used for letting a debate play out.
• Antonym退くしりぞくNeutralAntonym: to shrink back or withdraw; the opposite of actively rising to a challenge.
• Antonym逃げるにげるNeutralAntonym: to run away or evade; the opposite of facing a difficulty head-on.

Use 「挑む」 when you actively take on a strong opponent, a hard problem or a record, as in 「記録に挑む」「難題に挑む」. For the noun say 「挑戦」; in casual speech, 「チャレンジ」; for confronting head-on, 「立ち向かう」. Words like 「抗う」「抵抗」「反抗」「歯向かう」「楯突く」 are about resisting or defying rather than challenging, and 「競う」「競い合う」「競り合う」「張り合う」「競争」 are about contests and rivalry; 「戦う」 is the broad word for fighting. The opposites are 「退く」 and 「逃げる」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 戦たたかいなどを仕掛しかける。
2. 困難こんなんな物事ものごとなどに立ち向たちむかう。