Abstract: A soft, absorbent fibrous web is formed from an aqueous slurry and includes randomly arranged and contacting wood pulp fibers produced by the sulfate process which constitute the predominate fiber component, by weight, of the web. A portion of the web thickness is substantially free of debonders and wet strength additives, and the fibers in that portion of the web are held together almost exclusively by papermaking bonds. A plurality of partially fractured areas are provided in spaced-apart regions which are substantially uniformly distributed throughout the web. An adhesive bonding material extends only partially through the web thickness to form adhesively bonded regions having a greater strength than underlying regions which are bonded together almost exclusively by the papermaking bonds. The web of this invention has a basis weight in the range of from about 25 to about 100 lbs/2,880 feet.sup.2, a density of from about 0.08 grams/cc to less than about 0.16 grams/cc.