self-effacing
self-ih-FAY-singadjMeaning keeping yourself in the background; humble
Memory hook SELF-ERASING: she rubs herSELF out. When the team photo is taken, the coach steps to the very edge, nearly out of the picture, and says, “It was all them.” She is self-effacing.
The self-effacing coach gave all the credit to her players.
In context Although he had built most of the robot himself, the self-effacing engineer stood at the back of the photo and told reporters that the team deserved the praise.
Similar humble, modest, shy, retiring
Opposite boastful, attention-seeking, arrogant
From efface, “to rub out,” from French effacer: ex (out) + face (face, surface).