An improved tear resistant wiper is provided having a repeating pattern of thin, closely spaced curvilinear embossed elements adjacent the leading edge of the wipe and which pattern extends inwardly less than a third of the length of the wipe. The linear emboss elements have a high aspect ratio and narrow width in order to obtain a high density of embossments such that discrete unembossed regions within the leading edge region are small and yet the overall unembossed area still occupies at least 70% of the surface area.