high-maintenance

adjective

high-main·​te·​nance ˈhī-ˈmānt-nən(t)s 

-ˈmān-tə-nən(t)s

1

: requiring a large amount of care or maintenance

The high-maintenance "Dracula" orchid constantly needs high levels of humidity and cooler temperatures.

—Victoria Colliver

They can't even afford the high-maintenance hairdos, let alone the Adidas sweats.

—Gerri Hirshey

2

of a person : tending to cause problems or demand attention : extremely sensitive, demanding, or temperamental

Playing the victim gets you absolutely nowhere, and it only makes you seem tiring and high-maintenance to your boss.

—Cosmopolitan

Matthäus is the greatest German sweeper since Beckenbauer, but he's high-maintenance. At various times in his career, he has accused a ref of taking bribes, scrapped with a teammate and, three years ago, ripped his universally beloved German teammate Jürgen Klinsmann in a tell-all book.

—Jeff Bradley

Examples of high-maintenance in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

According to Kuthy, their high-maintenance nature has landed these delicate flowers on her no-grow list. —Cori Sears, The Spruce, 10 Mar. 2026

Instead of the fanciest, most high-maintenance option, Steve Evans, owner of Memphis Maids, recommends choosing washer-safe curtains that can withstand the heat and agitation necessary to get rid of mold and mildew. —Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2026

The effect is striking but never flashy, and expensive without appearing high-maintenance. —Calin Van Paris, InStyle, 3 Mar. 2026

Their platforms are expensive, high-maintenance and increasingly risky from a security standpoint. —David Stout, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1916, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for high-maintenance

• maintenance