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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Sometimes the presence of other humans can turn a work into something greater than the sum of its parts.
—
Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 7 May 2025
And though both prestigious businesses produce coveted vintages, the resulting bottling is somehow far greater than the sum of its parts.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 12 Apr. 2025
There are times and places when apparel is more than fashion, when the total is more than the sum of its parts.
—Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024
Get The Recipe 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
See All Example Sentences for greater/better/more than the sum of its parts
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Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 7 May 2025
And though both prestigious businesses produce coveted vintages, the resulting bottling is somehow far greater than the sum of its parts.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 12 Apr. 2025
There are times and places when apparel is more than fashion, when the total is more than the sum of its parts.
—Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024
Get The Recipe 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
See All Example Sentences for greater/better/more than the sum of its parts
Cite this Entry
“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 2 Jun. 2025.
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