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
All of it—inhabitants, included—add up to something greater than the sum of its parts.
—
Jacqui Gifford, Travel + Leisure, 25 July 2025
The most successful deals aren’t just about expanding market share—they’re about uniting people, relationships and expertise in ways that make the whole greater than the sum of its parts.
—Brian Helgoe, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
This illustrates the power of regional synergy: L’Oréal’s resource integration expertise combines Japan’s advanced technology with China’s vast market and distinctive commercial landscape, creating a synergy where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
—Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 30 June 2025
New captain Mbock must create a collective greater than the sum of its parts.
—Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 28 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for greater/better/more than the sum of its parts
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Jacqui Gifford, Travel + Leisure, 25 July 2025
The most successful deals aren’t just about expanding market share—they’re about uniting people, relationships and expertise in ways that make the whole greater than the sum of its parts.
—Brian Helgoe, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
This illustrates the power of regional synergy: L’Oréal’s resource integration expertise combines Japan’s advanced technology with China’s vast market and distinctive commercial landscape, creating a synergy where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
—Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 30 June 2025
New captain Mbock must create a collective greater than the sum of its parts.
—Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 28 June 2025
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 5 Aug. 2025.
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