Graupels are small, soft hailstones that are often mistaken for snowflakes or sleet. They are formed when supercooled water droplets freeze onto falling snowflakes, creating a rounded, irregularly shaped pellet of ice. While the term "graupel" is the most commonly used to describe these unique pellets of ice, there are a number of other synonyms that you might encounter. Some of the most common alternatives include soft hail, snow pellets, rimed pellets, and sleet pellets. These terms are all used interchangeably to describe the same type of precipitation, although there may be some subtle differences in the size and consistency of these pellets depending on the specific conditions under which they form.