Bear hugging is an act of embracing or holding something or someone tightly like a bear. When we think of antonyms for "bear hugging," we come up with words like push away, repel, distance, and avoid. These words represent the opposite action of hugging, where we try to create space rather than close it. They are often related to negative emotions and situations where we want to protect ourselves or someone else from harm. For instance, if someone is being attacked, we would push away the attacker to protect ourselves or others. On the other hand, hugging is a positive and comforting gesture that symbolizes love and affection.