Giving wide berth means to avoid or keep a safe distance from someone or something. The antonyms of giving wide berth will be to approach or get closer to something or someone. You could use words like proximity, nearness, approach, and closeness. When you want to be near someone or something, you might say, "I want to be in their proximity," or "I'm going to approach them." On the other hand, if you want to keep a safe distance, you could use phrases like "steer clear," "avoid," "shun," or "stay away from." It's essential to choose your words wisely to convey your intentions and avoid misunderstandings.