Metaphoric potential of zoonyms in media texts (based on the language unit ‘wolf’)

The textual manifestation of the unit ‘wolf’ is studied in the Russian-speaking media space for the period from 2012 to 2022. Attention is paid to research devoted to the study of units implemented at the secondary nomination level, in particular, to works devoted to the peculiarities of the implementation of stable structures. The novelty of the research is due to the fact that an attempt has been made to describe the semantic and pragmatic features of the key unit ‘wolf’, which is active in modern media spheres. The relevance of the research is determined by the need to study a fragment of the media space organized with the help of language units at the secondary nomination level. It is proved that in media texts the key unit wolf is realized figuratively as a part of stable structures that are fixed both in the original and in the transformed version. It is proved that stable structures with an integral component ‘wolf’ are implemented with a stable negative connotation and expand their connotative potential and the scope of usage.