the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > derision, ridicule, or mockery > banter or good-humoured ridicule > banter [verb (transitive)] > banter mercilessly (3)
transitive. colloquial. To severely ridicule, reprimand, or interrogate (a person); to criticize or denounce. Also (Scottish (central)): to pester…
To make a fool or mockery of; to ridicule.
Chiefly British School slang. Now rare. transitive. To tease, torment, ‘rag’; to denigrate.