The article studies the main lexico-sematic and stylistic ways of expressing verbal aggression as an emotional reaction occurring in the act of interpersonal communication as well as the sources of its formation in the English and Russian languages. The significance of the topic is explained by the rising level of aggression in the modern society, various types and levels of conflicts that take place, the frequency of which is related to the intensifying contacts between the representatives of different ethno-cultural groups. Interpersonal conflicts are, as a rule, expressed in verbal and non-verbal aggression. Verbal aggression is marked by offensive words and abusing language addressed towards the source of annoyance. Such destructive ways of communication deprive the members of a communicative act of an opportunity to reach common ground, establish rapport, in addition they are highly likely to damage social connections and are toxic for life-sustaining activity of individuals, groups and the whole society. Verbal aggression does not have particular time or ethnic frames, neither is it limited by certain socio-cultural context. Being descried as aggressive, interpretative model of communication may be considered by the addressee as the one infringing the sense of self-worth, causing emotional distress, even though the addresser did not intend to commit an act of verbal aggression. The cause of such a perception lies in the regional communicative features the addressee belongs to, differences in social statues of the members of communication, their specific ethic and cultural belonging. The media is a powerful means of spreading verbal aggression. Interpreting the events from its own perspective, being guided by its own preferences, the media manipulates the readers’ opinions being armed with a variety of verbal techniques, influence the behaviour of the members of the communicative act, the way they evaluate the events, shape behaviour and verbal patterns, including the aggressive ones.