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synergy
[ sin-er-jee ]
noun
- the interaction of elements that when combined produce a total effect that is greater than the sum of the individual elements, contributions, etc.; synergism.
- Physiology, Medicine/Medical. the cooperative action of two or more muscles, nerves, or the like.
- Biochemistry, Pharmacology. the cooperative action of two or more stimuli or drugs.
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Derived Forms
- synergic, adjective
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Other Words From
- syn·er·gic [si-, nur, -jik], adjective
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Word History and Origins
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Word History and Origins
Origin of synergy1
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Example Sentences
So there’s this kind of happy sort of synergy between technology progress and our great ability to tell stories.
The integration is on track while “synergies” are ahead of forecast.
Taxi can get a lot more from its synergies with other Yandex businesses.
The talent and creativity on TikTok is unlike any other platform, and we see a lot of synergy between our values and the freedom of self-expression there.
I do believe that the key for people who are trying to create this synergy around environmentalism, climate change, and racism, is to organize your issues into something that’s actionable.
Phil Jackson, to be clear, will not be joining in on this merry bit of corporate synergy.
Though King and Malcolm X met only once, Cones demonstrates how they understood and utilized their synergy.
It became clear there was a lot of potential synergy and that a partnership made a lot of sense.
And it seemed that alcohol and tobacco worked together in toxic synergy to produce the malignancy.
By the time Cerf died, in 1971, he realized to his regret that synergy was a siren that had swallowed him whole.
In each moment of our life we entertain some purpose, and to this purpose the synergy of our actions is directed.
There are lots of opportunities for synergy within Kodacell: marketing, logistics, even packing materials.
There is a synergy between their movements and their muscular contractions and the forthcoming paranormal movements.
It is, and we must coin a word to express it, a social "synergy" that is wanted.
On several occasions we have remarked a synergy of function, head and eyes moving upward in unison.
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Related Words
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More About Synergy
What does synergy mean?
Synergy refers to when an interaction of elements produces an effect that is greater than the effect that would have resulted from simply adding up the effects of each individual element.
In other words, synergy is what happens when a combination of things produces an effect or result that is said to be “greater than the sum of its parts.”
When you combine things—chemicals, ingredients, people—you often expect these things to interact in a certain way based on what has been included. But when something extra happens, something greater, this is synergy. Synergy implies that the magic is in the combination, as opposed to in the individual elements themselves.
Synergy can be used in all kinds of contexts. A food critic might say that a particular dish is delicious due to the synergy of its ingredients. In the business world, the word synergy is often seen as a kind of buzzword that’s used as a way of referring to what makes a certain project or venture successful.
Synergy is also used in a more specific way in the context of medicine to refer to the cooperation of multiple body parts, such as muscles or nerves. It can also refer to the interaction of drugs or other stimuli. The things that cooperate in this way can be called synergists.
The word synergism can be used to mean the same thing as synergy. The adjective synergistic can be used to describe a combination that produces such an effect or things that work together in this way.
Example: The cooperation between these departments produced a synergy that led to great success.
Where does synergy come from?
The first records of the word synergy come from the 1650s. It comes from the Greek synerg(ós), meaning “working together,” from syn-, “together,” and érg(on), “work.” The root érg(on) is also the basis of words like energy and ergonomics.
Synergy is usually used in the context of things or people working together in a special, almost magical way. It can be used in all kinds of contexts. In music, it can refer to something like harmony, or something even more. It often involves an intangible quality that’s produced by a combination that is said to be “greater than the sum of its parts.”
Did you know ... ?
What are some other forms of synergy?
- synergistic (adjective)
- synergic (adjective)
What are some synonyms for synergy?
What are some words that share a root or word element with synergy?
What are some words that often get used in discussing synergy?
How is synergy used in real life?
Synergy is typically used in a positive way in the discussion of things or people coming together to produce something great.
Love the synergy we have when we make these songs
— Twelve (@twelvetheartist) December 3, 2020
Z is "an effective horror film that manages to capture a special kind of synergy in creeping you out while also pulling you into a great drama," writes our @Umbrella_Ops. Debuts on @Shudder on May 7th.
REVIEW: https://t.co/aGqroaNC05 #shuddershutin pic.twitter.com/0QRzIRSMv0
— Killer Horror Critic (@KillerfromSpace) May 5, 2020
This is the kind of synergy betwen #openaccess journals and library collections that we all dream of :) https://t.co/kyp278zM8W
— Ernesto Priego (@ernestopriego) March 15, 2017
Try using synergy!
Which of the following words is LEAST likely to be used to describe an effect that is said to be the result of synergy?
A. successful
B. magical
C. unproductive
D. effective
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