Learn English – What do you call someone who desperately needs (or better said craves) everyone to like them

epithet-requestspejorative-languagesingle-word-requests

I have this friend who is in constant search for approval – and not only from his peers, but every single person he meets. He also needs to be the center of attention.

Best Answer

I think the most obvious choice would be needy itself:

needy adj
2. Wanting or needing affection, attention, or reassurance, especially to an excessive degree.

TFD

Note that in AmE you will frequently hear the term "high maintenance" ("My girlfriend/boyfriend is so high maintenance!") used as a synonym for needy. Whereas needy has an alternate meaning that refers to someone who is merely poor or disadvantaged, high maintenance has nothing associated with it that absolves its target from blame.