əˈshāmd adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English āscamod, past participle of āscamian to shame, from ā- (perfective prefix) + scamian to shame — more at abear , shame
1.
a. : feeling shame : humiliated or disconcerted by feelings of guilt, disgrace, or impropriety about something discreditable or indecorous
rather ashamed that on my first appearance I had stayed so late — Scott Fitzgerald
— usually used predicatively
b. : ill at ease or subdued by feelings of inferiority or unworthiness
they can't afford the stalls and are ashamed to be seen in the gallery — G.B.Shaw
2. : restrained by anticipation of feelings of shame : reluctant or unwilling to undertake an action likely to involve shame
he looked at his own shabby person and was ashamed to enter — Sherwood Anderson
3. chiefly Midland : timid , bashful
Synonyms:
mortified , chagrined : mortified and chagrined also apply to feelings and situations involving embarrassment and humiliation. ashamed stresses regretful feelings of guilt, discredit, or disgrace at one's own or another's shameful or discreditable actions, behavior, or condition
you were ashamed because you had gone against the community judgement — Mary Austin
the hunter, who is ashamed if he does not hit his quarry in the appointed, difficult, and honorable spot — Margaret Mead
Catherine, recollecting herself, grew ashamed of her eagerness — Jane Austen
I have been ashamed of your moroseness there! Your manners have been of that silent and sullen and hangdog kind — Charles Dickens
mortified suggests sorry or resentful hurt pride at being put into a false and embarrassing but not necessarily shameful position
mortified at finding the house shut — Harriet Martineau
chagrined stresses the feeling of vexation at a rebuff or disappointment
“you've done your best, Blundell, but I think we had better hand the thing over … to Scotland Yard …”. Mr. Blundell looked chagrined — Dorothy Sayers
Tony, somewhat chagrined at his mistake, said he should like to see the other pictures — Archibald Marshall