watch the world burn

verb

To watch the chaos, pain or death that results from the actions of others or oneself with an attitude of detachment or indifference.

“Well, because he thought it was good sport. Because some men aren't looking for anything logical, like money. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned, or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn.”

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Meanings

verbwatch the world burn (third-person singular simple present watches the world burn, present participle watching the world burn, simple past and past participle watched the world burn)

present singular third person watches the world burn · participle present watching the world burn · participle past watched the world burn · past watched the world burn

  1. derogatoryidiomaticslangTo watch the chaos, pain or death that results from the actions of others or oneself with an attitude of detachment or indifference.

    Well, because he thought it was good sport. Because some men aren't looking for anything logical, like money. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned, or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn.

Origin

Popularized by a quote from The Dark Knight (2008), from a character who explains about the motives of criminals such as the Joker.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

watch the world burn. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/watch%20the%20world%20burn

MLA

“watch the world burn.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/watch%20the%20world%20burn. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “watch the world burn,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/watch%20the%20world%20burn.

Source: watch the world burn on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.