greater/better/more than the sum of its parts

idiom

—used to say that something is better or more effective as a team, combination, etc., than would be expected when looking at the different parts that form it

The team lacks standout players, but it has proved to be greater than the sum of its parts.

Examples of greater/better/more than the sum of its parts in a Sentence

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So many companies use this structure, because it's been demonstrated that a team is more than the sum of its parts. —

Jennifer Shewan, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024 Layers of Flavor Beyond the obvious ones in the recipe name, there are some other ingredients that make this dish taste like more than the sum of its parts. —

Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 20 Sep. 2024 Young bright individuals have produced moments of supreme quality, but Spain’s collective is greater than the sum of its parts. —

The Athletic Staff, The Athletic, 14 July 2024 And so a life impacts more than the sum of its parts. —

Chris Klimek, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for greater/better/more than the sum of its parts

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“Greater/better/more than the sum of its parts.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/greater%2Fbetter%2Fmore%20than%20the%20sum%20of%20its%20parts. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.

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