smother vs asphyxiate

smother is a noun but asphyxiate is not a noun.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
smother	Yes	No	Yes	No
asphyxiate	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, smother and asphyxiate are synonyms defined as:

Other synonyms of smother include suffocate.

smother (noun)	asphyxiate (noun)
a stifling cloud of smoke
a confused multitude of things

smother (verb)	asphyxiate (verb)
deprive of oxygen and prevent from breathing	be asphyxiated; die from lack of oxygen
suppress in order to conceal or hide	deprive of oxygen and prevent from breathing
envelop completely	impair the respiration of or obstruct the air passage of
deprive of the oxygen necessary for combustion
form an impenetrable cover over