Braced oneself is a term used to describe the act of preparing oneself for a difficult situation. The crossword solutions STEELED (7 letters) and NERVED (6 letters) are related to this term, as they both refer to the act of strengthening oneself mentally and emotionally in order to face a challenge. STEELED refers to the idea of hardening oneself, while NERVED implies that one must be brave and courageous in order to brace oneself.