Are refuse and decline interchangeable words

Question

If I request something of you in a question and you say no, Are you refusing or declining my request? Is there even a difference between refusing and declining in this context?

Answer 1

Hmmm...

 

If you ask me, "Would you like to go see a movie tonight?" and I answer no, I'm declining.  If you tell me, "We are going to a movie tonight!" and I reply no, then I am refusing.