High-maintenance

Describing a person or thing that requires a significant amount of attention, effort, or resources to maintain or satisfy. This can refer to individuals with demanding needs, often involving emotional or practical support, or to objects or systems that are complex, costly, or prone to problems. The term suggests a level of difficulty or challenge associated with managing or interacting with the subject in question, emphasizing the effort required to keep them content or functional. It's frequently applied in the context of relationships, technology, and lifestyle choices.

High-maintenance meaning with examples

• Sarah's friends often described her as high-maintenance because she always had to have the best designer clothes, preferred the most expensive restaurants, and required constant validation and attention. This made it challenging for friendships as her needs constantly had to be met. She would often express a need to be showered with compliments or attention, leaving her friends exhausted.
• The vintage sports car was beautiful, but also high-maintenance. Frequent repairs, hard-to-find parts, and a need for meticulous care meant the owner devoted significant time and money to keeping it running smoothly. He often remarked about how challenging it was to meet the need for regular care. It did however, make a statement of being expensive.
• Dealing with a high-maintenance client proved exhausting for the sales team. They demanded immediate responses, detailed reports, and frequent meetings, making it difficult to focus on other projects. Their demands required the team to work overtime, creating a culture of stress and ultimately, reduced morale and efficiency in the workplace.
• Emily considered her dog high-maintenance; it was very energetic and required extensive walks, special food, and constant play. She said it was quite difficult but the unconditional love it provided made it worthwhile. The demanding schedule of caring for her meant a great deal of planning and attention. Despite this, she adored the company and energy the animal brought.
• The new software system proved high-maintenance for the IT department. Regular updates, frequent troubleshooting, and ongoing training were required to keep it operational, significantly increasing the department's workload. Even with the resources allocated, they still seemed to have great challenges in implementation and regular servicing. This was creating problems with the budget.