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feeling shame; distressed or embarrassed by feelings of guilt, foolishness, or disgrace:
He felt ashamed for having spoken so cruelly.
unwilling or restrained because of fear of shame, ridicule, or disapproval:
They were ashamed to show their work.
Chiefly Midland U.S. (especially of children) bashful; timid.
Contemporary Examples

My friend immediately replied that he is there, protesting, in order not to be ashamed when wearing a kippah.
Not Ready to Give Up the Battle Shlomi Daskal March 27, 2012

And shaming is a cycle: because women are ashamed to come forward, the stigma persists, shaming more women, etc.
Ten Reasons Women Are Losing While Gays Keep Winning Jay Michaelson July 5, 2014

Most of them whispered their stories because they were too ashamed to speak out loud.
Congo’s Anti-Rape Crusader Delphine Minoui June 27, 2010

For the first time since I put my acceptance letter in the mail, I woke up this morning ashamed of my alma mater.
How UVA Is Failing Its Women Allison McNearney November 19, 2014

These three really should be ashamed of themselves, trying to pump this into some huge scandal.
A Hold on Rice’s Nomination?? Michael Tomasky November 26, 2012

Historical Examples

Do you think he’s—do you think he’s pleased with her, and yet ashamed of it?
Alice Adams Booth Tarkington

Some of us will have to be ashamed of our outcry after our dead.
Weighed and Wanting George MacDonald

“Troth, Mr. Macgregor, it’s not a name to be ashamed of,” answered Alan.
Kidnapped Robert Louis Stevenson

She was a Christian from childhood, but she said that she was ashamed to claim the name.
Ester Ried Yet Speaking Isabella Alden

If he had the chance he would live from now on so that if she were alive she need not be ashamed!
Satan Sanderson Hallie Erminie Rives

adjective (usually postpositive)
overcome with shame, guilt, or remorse
(foll by of) suffering from feelings of inferiority or shame in relation to (a person, thing, or deed)
(foll by to) unwilling through fear of humiliation, shame, etc
adj.

Old English asceamed “feeling shame, filled with shame,” past participle of ascamian “to feel shame,” from a- intensive prefix + scamian “be ashamed, blush; cause shame” (see shame (v.)). The verb is obsolete, but the past participle lives on. Meaning “reluctant through fear of shame” is c.1300.