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

White wine vinegar and Dijon mustard provide a good dose of acidity, while the bacon grease adds a hint of smoky savoriness, all joining forces to become dressing that’s greater than the sum of its parts. —Aaron Hutcherson, Washington Post, 2 Apr. 2024

Cyber insurance provides financial protection, while MSPs can contribute to risk reduction, active protection and incident prevention—a combination greater than the sum of its parts. —Dor Eisner, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

But Jefferson overlays the story’s most biting wit with layers of warmth, sadness and discovery that make this movie far more than the sum of its parts. —Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 20 Dec. 2023

The good news is that The Record exceeds expectations, with Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus each putting their stamp on its soaring road-trip rock and pensive folk while achieving something greater than the sum of its parts. —Owen Myers, EW.com, 8 July 2023

These strategies not only enhance team performance but also cultivate a culture of collaboration, innovation, and shared success, proving that the whole can indeed be greater than the sum of its parts. —Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024

Given these achievements, there's an obvious temptation for modern genre storytellers to combine apparently disparate elements in hopes of creating something better than the sum of its parts. —Christian Holub, EW.com, 26 July 2023

But food, like other aspects of culture, is more than the sum of its parts. —Emiene Wright, Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2024

The filling becomes much greater than the sum of its parts. —Chandler Boese, Kansas City Star, 18 Jan. 2024