Brace oneself is a phrase that means to prepare oneself for a difficult or unpleasant situation. There are various synonyms available for this phrase which can be used in different contexts. One of the synonyms is "steel oneself" which emphasizes the aspect of mentally preparing oneself. Another is "get ready" which is more general and can be used in any situation. "Gird oneself" is also a synonym that can be used in formal or literary contexts, meaning to prepare oneself for an upcoming challenge. Another synonym for brace oneself is "embrace oneself" which denotes acceptance of a difficult situation. Overall, there are several synonyms available to use rather than the repetitive use of the phrase "brace oneself".