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

Recent Examples on the Web

If this shapeless but well-textured movie resolves as more than the sum of its parts, that’s only because Marais eventually pushes Rebecca to answer that question — clearly, and on her own terms. —David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 8 Oct. 2024

And while a great team makes any production more than the sum of its parts, Huang’s excellent work brings a familiar cast of characters to life in a way that’s distinctly different from any previous incarnation of DC Comics’ infamous Extended Universe. —Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes, 18 Sep. 2024

Assemblage, as applied in winemaking, focuses on combining different wines to create a final product that is greater than the sum of its parts. —Rachel King, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024

The whole isn’t always greater than the sum of its parts. —Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 30 Sep. 2024