VOCABULARY — Choose the antonym (opposite in meaning) of the highlighted word. Sentence: “His critics found in the OVERT statements some hidden design.”

Introduction / Context:
“Overt” means open, public, or apparent. An antonym should express the idea of being hidden or concealed, especially in contrast to “overt statements.”

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Overt ↔ concealed/secret.
• Sentence contrasts surface openness with hidden intention.
• We need a single-word antonym.

Concept / Approach:
The standard antonym pair in formal English is “overt” vs “covert.” “Covert” specifically means hidden, disguised, or secret, fitting the sentence’s semantic opposition.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1) Determine the sense of “overt”: plainly shown, not concealed.2) Look for its lexical opposite: “covert”.3) Validate collocation: “covert design” is idiomatic for hidden plan.

Verification / Alternative check:
Dictionary pairs list overt/covert as direct antonyms. Substituting confirms correctness: “His critics found in the covert statements …” would reverse the meaning appropriately.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
A) “converse” — means opposite in a logical sense, not “hidden”.B) “pervert” — a verb meaning to distort/corrupt; not an antonym of “overt”.D) “contrived” — means artificial; still overt if obvious, not necessarily hidden.E) Not applicable since “covert” fits perfectly.

Common Pitfalls:
Choosing a negative-sounding word without checking core meaning. Antonyms must reverse the central semantic feature (open ↔ hidden).

Final Answer:
covert