The urgency of the study is determined by the need for a comprehensive analysis of the invective in the work of I. Franko and ascertaining its linguistic status. The object of the article is the Ukrainian invective as a linguistic and speech phenomenon. The subject of the article is a characterization of the invective in I. Franko’s novel “Cross Roads”. The processing of linguistic material was conditioned by the application of such general scientifi c methods: observation — for fi xing linguistic and extralinguistic expressions of invective, descriptive — for identifi cation and identifi cation of characteristic features of Ukrainian invective, analysis and synthesis of factual material, which allowed to systematize and objectify the linguistic qualifi cation of factual material. Conclusions. The invective in the novel gives a certain color to the narrative, is one of the means of realistic depiction of everyday situations. It is a mark, emotionally and expressively colored, evaluative and expresses a negative phenomenon, sometimes allows the most complete transfer of all nuances of everyday speech. Since the aim of the invective is to make the opponent feel the whole abyss of his insignifi cance, the invective value is produced as a result of a kind of negative low creative process that occurs because of the desire of the addressee to reproduce the compatibility of words, phrases, and sentences that contradict stylistic norms. This process is not standard. Thus, the addressee fences off the realities of reality, because they are non-standard, contradictory. At the heart of the invective is a gross negative nomination, which is off ensive to the addressee. The selection of such nominations for the purpose of comparison creates an expressive imagery that contains the potential for impact on the listener due to the cynical characteristics of the object and is marked by an exquisite negative evaluation. Invective means are selected depending on the purpose and nature of the statement, from the person to whom it is addressed, since each situation requires appropriate lexical fi lling and stylistic means. With the help of appropriate language tools and techniques, it is possible to lay special information in the subconscious of a person that can become a part of his psychic essence. But it is undeniable that the word from all language means has the greatest infl uence on the addressee.