Recently, in modern public space, in particular socio-political discourse, contemptuous statements have become more frequent with the intention of insulting the opponents, humiliating their status, honor and dignity, and making them feel bitterness and annoyance. Once in the media, they not only give a negative evaluation of specific individuals, but also vulgarize speech and in different ways affect the consciousness of recipients. The intensification at the turn of the century of scientific studies devoted to the speech and psychological influence of the addressant on the addressee, determined the need in a thorough analysis of the communicative intention of the insult in modern media.