When I was pregnant with Bruce one of the discussions Luke and I had was about how we didn't want him to be negative (although he is oppositional). We agreed that we did not like the word "hate". So we used alternatives, "I don't like... or it's not my favorite"
Well, one goal hit as parents thus far....Bruce generally says "It's not my favorite" when things come up that he does not like! Now I need to knock on some wood, cause it is more pleasant in tantrums to hear "it's not my favorite" vs. "I hate..."