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

Separately, SoundCloud's consumer and professional aspects aren't particularly exceptional, but the two elements create a streaming service that is greater than the sum of its parts, especially if your audio preferences lean toward the indie scene. —PCMAG, 28 Oct. 2024

The whole is always greater than the sum of its parts, as each modality has its own strengths, which reflect onto the others. —Valerie Mesa, People.com, 24 Oct. 2024

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