The process of making tender. Common methods include smacking with something hard and heavy, applying something which chemically alters the structure of the object being tenderized, or marinating in a liquid.

Can also refer, albeit somewhat obliquely, to the practice of weakening an opponent's avatar in an electronic milieu. Tenderize in this case usually indicates a campaign of misery including harassment of, inflicting damage to, or inciting concern for, the avatar to make eventual surrender by the player or death of the avatar easier.