Answer
Avoiding direct confrontation was a key element of Fabius Maximus' strategy in the Second Punic War. Instead of engaging in pitched battles with Hannibal's superior forces, Fabius employed a strategy of attrition, harassing the Carthaginian army, cutting off its supplies, and avoiding decisive engagements. This strategy, known as the Fabian Strategy, aimed to weaken Hannibal's army gradually and force him to retreat without risking a major Roman defeat.