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.

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Reframing The Value Of Collaboration No one person has all the answers, but together, teams can form a mosaic of expertise far greater than the sum of its parts. Hunter McMahon, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025 On this latest evidence, Leeds have secured a net profit on and off the field — this year’s squad is proving greater than the sum of its parts. Beren Cross, The Athletic, 12 Feb. 2025 But what makes the coffee shop experience important to us as individuals and a society is something greater than the sum of its parts. David G. Allan, CNN, 20 Jan. 2025 When these elements work in unison, the outcome is greater than the sum of its parts: a business that’s not just agile, but unstoppable. Jan Gilg, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025 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 13 Mar. 2025.

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